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OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  CALIFORNIA 

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THE 


ADVENTURES 


OF 


HAJJI    BABA, 


IN 


TUEKEY,  PERSIA  AND  RUSSIA. 


EDITED    BY    JAMES   MORIER. 


PHILADELPHIA: 

LIPPINCOTT,    GRAMBO    &    CO. 

1855. 


FR 


THE 


ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 


"  To  unite  amusement  with  instruction  is  to 
give  relish  to  nourishment.  The  man  whose 
energies  are  worn  out  with  the  daily  strug- 
gles in  life,  when  he  sees  portraj'ed  the 
sterner  hattles  of  some  other  life,  forgets  the 
cares  that  press  too  heavily  on  his  own 
heart  and  paralyze  its  strength;  ho  passes 
out  of  the  narrow  circle  in  which  his  self- 
hood is  hourly  bound;  his  faculties  are  quick- 
ened and  refreshed  in  listening  to  sparkling 
wit ;  the  finest  chords  within  his  breast  are 
stirred  by  the  breath  of  the  poet's  inspiration." 


■n 


CONTENTS. 


Introductory  Epistle, 


CHAPTER 

I.  Of  Hajji  Baba's  Birth  and  Education, 

II.  Hajji  Baba  commences  bis  Travels,      .... 

III.  Hajji  Baba  in  Captivity, 

IV.  Rescues  bis  Master's  Money  and  determines  to  keep  it, 
V.  Hajji  Baba  invades  bis  native  City, 

VI.  The  Three  Prisoners  and  the  Booty,     . 


VII.  A  Feeling  Disposition — History  of  the  Poet 
VIII.  Hajji  Baba  Escapes  from  the  Turcomans, 
IX.  Hajji  Baba  becomes  a  AVater-Carrier, 
X.  A  New  Profession,        .... 
XI.  History  of  the  Dervishes, 
XII.  Fraud  Punished — Fresh  Plans,    . 

XIII.  Becomes  a  Dervish — A  Good  Story, 

XIV.  A  Strange  Encounter, 

XV.  Hajji  Baba  goes  to  the  Poet's  House, 
XVI.  Plans  for  the  Future, 
XVII.  Appears  in  a  New  Character,  . 
XVIII.   The  Poet  Returns  from  Captivity, 
XIX.  Hajji  Baba  and  the  King's  Physician, 
XX.  His  Skill  as  a  Negotiator — Pills  and  Gold, 
XXI.  How  the  Shah  of  Persia  takes  Medicine, 
XXII.  The  Doctor's  Salary, 


Asker, 


11 

PAGE 

27 
30 
35 
37 
41 
47 
50 
64 
59 
'  62 
.  65 
75 
78 
83 
86 
89 
92 
95 
98 
102 
106 

no 


a) 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTKR 
XXIII. 

XXIV. 

XXV. 

XXVI. 

XXVII. 

XXVIII. 

XXIX. 

XXX. 

XXXI. 

XXXII. 

XXXIII. 

XXXIV. 

XXXV. 

XXXVI. 

XXXVII, 

XXXVIII. 

XXXIX. 

XL. 

XLI. 

XLII. 

XLIII. 

XLIV. 

XLV. 

XLVI. 

XLVII. 

XLVIU. 

XIIX. 

l. 

LI. 

LII. 

LIU. 

xirv. 

LV. 
IVI. 


Falls  in  Love, 

An  Interview  with  the  Fair  Zeenab,     . 

Interior  of  the  Harem,     .... 

History  of  Zeenab— The  Doctor's  Discovery, 

Preparations  to  receive  the  Shah, 

The  Shah's  Reception  and  Conversation, 

The  Entertainment— Great  Misfortune,    , 

Last  Interview  with  Zeenab, 

Reflections— Exerts  his  Skill  as  a  Doctor, 

Hajji  becomes  an  Executioner,     . 

Gets  some  Insight  into  his  Profession, 

A  Specimen  of  Persian  Despotism, 

Fortune  Smiles— Promoted, 

A  Young  Couple  in  Distress, 

The  History  of  Yusuf  and  his  Wife  Mariam 

Sequel  of  the  foregoing  History,  . 

Hajji  Baba's  Confidence  worthily  placed, 

A  Favorable  Interview  with  the  Serdar, 

A  Memorable  Expedition  against  the  Russians, 

A  Specimen  of  Oriental  Lying,     . 

Execution  of  Zeenab, 

An  Old  Friend  and  his  Advice,     . 

Life  in  a  Monastery, 

A  Divine's  Opinion  of  Dervishes, 

A  Friend's  Rascality, 

Hajji  Baba  visits  his  Dying  Father,      . 

Becomes  Heir  to  Lost  Property, 

Shrewd  Means  to  Discover  his  Property, 

The  Magician's  Success, 

A  Persian  Lawyer,       .... 

A  New  Scheme  for  Raising  Money, 

Hajji  Baba  becomes  a  Marriage  Broker, 

Old  Acquaintances— A  Marriage,     . 

A  Lawyer's  Ambition  proves  his  Ruin, 


CONTENTS. 


OHAPTEB 

iiVii.  An  Extraordinary  Adventure  in  the  Bath, 
iviii.  Of  the  consequences  of  the  Adventure,         . 

rix.  Collecting  Money, 

ix.  A  Pair  of  Rogues,        ..... 
Lxi.  How  Hajji  Baha  became  a  Predestinarian, 
LXii.  The  Terrors  of  Guilt,  .... 

txiii.  A  Narrow  Escape, 

ixiv.  Arrives  at  Bagdad, 

Lxv.  Inspires  a  Hopeless  Passion,  .        .        . 

LXTi.  Becomes  a  Merchant, 

liXvii.  A  New  Conquest, 

ixviii.  The  Marriage  of  Hajji  Baba, 
ixix.  Inconvenience  of  supporting  a  False  Character, 
Lxx.  A  Great  Mistake — Quarrels, 
rxxi.  Discovered  to  be  an  Impostor, 
ixxii.  Seeks  Consolation  in  a  Friend's  Advice, 
ixxiii.  Interview  with  the  Persian  Ambassador, 

xxxiv.  State  Secrets, 

Lxxv.  First  Essays  in  Public  Life,      .... 
Lxxvi.  Hajji  Baba  writes  the  History  of  Europe,     . 
ixxvn.  Entertains  a  Frank  Ambassador, 
ixxviir.  Ambitious  Dreams  Realized, 
Lxxix.  Turns  his  Influence  into  Gold, 
ixxx.  The  Conclusion, 


PAQH 

309 
313 
817 
327 
331 
334 
339 
342 
346 
349 
352 
357 
361 
364 
367 
871 
374 
377 
381 
386 
391 
395 
398 
401 


INTRODUCTORY  EPISTLE, 

TO  THE  REV.  DR.  FUNDGRUBEN, 

CHAPLAIN   TO   THE    SWEDISH   EMBASSY   AT   THE    OTTOMAN    POETE. 


Esteemed  and  learned  Sir, 

You  will  be  astonished  to  see  yourself  addressed  by  one, 
of  whose  existence  you  are  perhaps  ignorant,  and  whose  name 
has  doubtless  long  since  been  erased  from  your  memory.  But 
when  I  put  you  in  mind  of  an  English  traveler,  who  (forgive 
my  precision)  sixteen  years  ago  was  frequently  admitted  to  en- 
joy the  pleasure  of  your  conversation,  and  who  was  even 
honored  with  a  peculiar  share  of  your  attention,  perhaps  then 
you  may  indulgently  recollect  him,  and  patiently  submit  to 
peruse  the  following  volumes,  to  which  he  now  takes  the  liberty 
of  prefixing  your  name. 

At  the  time  to  which  I  allude,  your  precious  hours  were  em- 
ployed in  searching  into  the  very  depths  of  hieroglyphic  lore, 
and  you  were  then  almost  entirely  taken  up  in  putting  together 
the  fruits  of  those  your  researches,  which  have  since  appeared, 
and  astonished  the  world  in  that  very  luminous  work  entitled 
"  The  Biography  of  celebrated  Mummies."  I  have  frequently 
since  reflected  upon  the  debt  of  gratitude  which  you  imposed 
by  allowing  me  to  engross  so  much  of  your  time,  and  that  upon 
matters  of  comparatively  trivial  importance,  when  your  mind 
must  have  been  so  much  engaged  upon  those  grave  and  weighty 
subjects,  which  you  have  treated  with  such  vast  learning,  clear- 
ness, and  perspicuity  in  your  above  mentioned  treatise.     In 

(11) 


12  INTRODUCTORY   EPISTLE. 

particular  I  have  ever  borne  in  mind  a  conversation,  when  one 
beautiful  moonlight  night,  reclining  upon  a  sofa  of  the  Swedish 
palace,  and  looking  out  of  those  windows  which  command  so 
magnificent  and  extensive  a  view  of  the  city  and  harbor  of 
Constantinople,  we  discussed  subjects  which  had  reference  to 
the  life  and  manners  of  the  extraordinary  people,  its  inhabi- 
tants. 

Excuse  me  for  reporting  back  your  own  words  ;  but  as  the 
subject  interested  me  much,  I  recollect  well  the  observation  you 
made,  that  no  traveler  had  ever  satisfied  you  in  his  delineation 
of  Asiatic  manners;  "for,"  said  you,  "in  general,  their  mode 
of  treating  the  subject  is  by  sweeping  assertions,  which  leave 
no  precise  image  on  the  mind,  or  by  disjointed  and  insulated 
facts,  which  for  the  most  part  are  only  of  consequence  as  they 
relate  to  the  individual  traveller  himself"  We  were  both 
agreed,  that  of  all  the  books  which  have  ever  been  published 
on  the  subject,  the  Arabian  Nights'  Entertainments  gives  the 
truest  picture  of  the  Orientals,  and  that,  for  the  best  of  all  rea- 
sons, because  it  is  the  work  of  one  of  their  own  community. 
"  But,"  said  you,  "  notwithstanding  they  have  been  put  into  a 
European  dress,  weeded  of  their  numerous  repetitions,  and 
brought  as  near  to  the  level  of  our  ideas  as  can  be,  still  few 
would  be  likely  to  understand  them  thoroughly  who  have  not 
lived  sometime  in  the  East,  and  who  have  not  had  frequent  op- 
portunities of  associating  with  its  inhabitants.  For,"  you  added, 
opening  a  volume  of  that  work  at  the  same  time,  "  to  make  a 
random  observation  upon  the  first  instance  which  occurs,  here 
in  the  history  of  the  three  Calendars,  I  see  that  Anima,  after 
having  requested  the  porter  whom  she  had  met  to  follow  her 
with  his  basket,  stopped  at  a  closed  door,  and  having  rapped, 
a  Christian  with  a  long  white  beard  opened  it,  into  whose  hand 
she  put  some  money  without  saying  a  single  word.  But  the 
Christian,  who  knew  what  she  wanted,  went  in  again,  and  a 
little  while  after  returned,  bringing  a  large  pitcher  full  of  ex- 
cellent wine."  You  observed,  "that  although  we  who  lived 
in  Turkey  might  know  that  wine  was  in  most  cities  prohibited 
to  be  sold  openly,  and  that  if  it  was  to  be  found  it  would  be 


INTRODUCTORY    EPISTLE.  13 

in  the  house  of  a  Christian,  many  of  whom  disposed  of  it  in  a 
mysterious  manner  to  the  Mohamedans,  yet  that  circumstance 
would  not  immediately  occur  to  the  mere  European  reader,  who 
perhaps  would  expect  something  to  be  forthcoming  in  the 
future  narrative,  from  what  is  in  fact  only  a  trait  of  common 
life." 

I  then  suggested,  that  perhaps  if  a  European  would  give  a 
"correct  idea  of  oriental  manners,  which  would  comprehend  an 
account  of  the  vicissitudes  attendant  upon  the  life  of  an  East- 
ern, of  his  feelings  about  his  government,  of  his  conduct  in  do- 
mestic life,  of  his  hopes  and  plans  of  advancement,  of  his  rival- 
ries and  jealousies,  in  short  of  every  thing  that  is  connected 
both  with  the  operations  of  the  mind  and  those  of  the  body, 
perhaps  his  best  method  would  be  to  collect  so  many  facts  and 
anecdotes  of  actual  life  as  would  illustrate  the  different  sta- 
tions and  ranks  which  compose  a  Mussulman  community, 
and  then  work  them  into  one  connected  narrative,  upon  the 
plan  of  that  excellent  picture  of  European  life,  Gil  Bias  of  Le 
Sage. 

To  this  you  were  pleased  to  object,  because  you  deemed  it 
almost  impossible  that  a  European,  even  supposing  him  to  have 
rejected  his  own  faith  and  adopted  the  Mohamedan,  as  in  the 
case  of  Monsieur  de  Bonneval,  who  rose  to  high  rank  in  the 

Turkish  government,  and  of  Messrs.    C and   B ,  in 

more  modern  times,  (the  former  a  Topchi  Bashi,  or  general  of 
artillery,  the  latter  an  attendant  upon  the  Capitan  Pascha,) 
could  ever  so  exactly  seize  those  nice  shades  and  distinction  of 
purpose,  in  action  and  manner,  which  a  pure  Asiatic  only 
could.  To  support  your  argument,  you  illustrated  it  by  observ- 
ing, that  neither  education,  time,  nor  talent,  could  ever  give  to 
a  foreigner,  in  any  given  country,  so  complete  a  possession  of 
its  language  as  to  make  him  pass  for  a  native ;  and  that,  do 
what  he  would,  some  defect  in  idiom,  or  even  some  too  great 
precision  in  grammar,  would  detect  him.  But,  said  you,  if  a 
native  Oriental  could  ever  be  brought  to  understand  so  much 
of  the  taste  of  Europeans,  in  investigations  of  this  nature,  as  to 
write  a  full  and  detailed  history  of  his  own  life,  beginning  with 
2 


14  INTRODUCTORY    EPISTLE. 

bis  earliest  education,  and  going  tlirough  to  its  decline,  we 
might  then  stand  a  chance  of  acquiring  the  desired  knowledge. 

This  conversation,  reverend  sir,  has  remained  treasured  up 
in  my  mind ;  for  having  lived  much  in  Eastern  countries,  I 
never  lost  sight  of  the  possibility  of  either  falling  in  with  a 
native  who  might  have  written  his  own  adventures,  or  of  form- 
ing such  an  intimacy  with  one,  as  might  induce  him  faithfully 
to  recite  them,  and  thus  afford  materials  for  the  work  which 
my  imagination  had  fondly  conceived  might  be  usefully  put 
together.  I  have  always  held  in  respect  most  of  the  customs 
and  habits  of  the  Orientals,  many  of  which,  to  the  generality 
of  Europeans,  appear  so  ridiculous  and  disgusting,  because  I 
have  ever  conceived  them  to  be  copies  of  ancient  originals. 
Por,  who  can  think  the  custom  of  eating  with  one's  fingers  dis- 
gusting, as  now  done  in  the  East,  when  two  or  more  put  their 
hands  into  the  same  mess,  and  at  the  same  time  read  that  part 
of  our  sacred  history  which  records,  "  He  that  dippeth  his  hand 
with  me  in  the  dish,"  &c.  ?  I  must  own,  every  time  that,  din- 
ing with  my  Eastern  friends,  I  performed  this  very  natural 
operation,  (although,  at  the  same  time,  let  it  be  understood 
that  I  have  a  great  respect  for  knives  and  forks,)  I  could  not 
help  feeling  myself  to  be  a  living  illustration  of  an  ancient  cus- 
tom, and  a  proof  of  the  authenticity  of  those  records  upon 
which  our  happiness  depends.  Whenever  I  heard  the  exclama- 
tion so  frequently  used  in  Persia,  on  the  occasion  of  little 
miseries,  "  What  ashes  are  fallen  on  my  head  !"  instead  of  see- 
ing any  thing  ridiculous  in  the  expression,  I  could  not  but 
meditate  on  the  coincidence  which  so  forcibly  illustrated  one 
of  the  commonest  expressions  of  grief  as  recorded  in  ancient 
writ. 

It  is  an  ingenious  expression  which  I  owe  to  you,  sir,  that 
the  manners  of  the  East  are  as  it  were  stereotype.  Although  I 
do  not  conceive  that  they  are  quite  so  strongly  marked,  yet,  to 
make  my  idea  understood,  I  wonld  say  that  they  are  like  the 
last  impressions  taken  from  a  copper-plate  engraving,  where 
the  whole  of  the  subject  to  be  represented  is  made  out,  although 
parts  of  it  from  much  use  have  been  obliterated. 


INTRODUCTORY    EPISTLE.  15 

If  I  may  be  allowed  the  expression,  a  pictnresqueness  per- 
vades the  whole  being  of  Asiatics,  which  we  do  not  find  in  our 
own  countries,  and  in  my  eyes  makes  every  thing  relating  to 
them  so  attractive  as  to  create  a  desire  to  impart  to  others  the 
impressions  made  upon  myself.  Thus,  in  viewing  a  beautiful 
landscape,  the  traveller,  be  he  a  draughtsman  or  not,  tant  Men 
que  mal,  endeavours  to  make  a  representation  of  it :  and  thus 
do  I  apologize  for  venturing  before  the  public  even  in  the  cha- 
racter of  a  humble  translator. 

Impressed  with  such  feelings  you  may  conceive  the  fullness 
of  my  joy,  when  not  very  long  after  the  conversation  above 
mentioned,  having  returned  to  England,  I  was  fortunate  enough 
to  be  appointed  to  fill  an  official  situation  in  the  suite  of  an 
ambassadoi',  which  our  government  found  itself  under  the  ne- 
cessity of  sending  to  the  Shah  of  Persia.  Persia,  that  imagi- 
nary seat  of  oriental  splendor !  that  land  of  poets  and  roses ! 
that  cradle  of  mankind,  that  uncontamiuated  source  of  Eastern 
manners,  lay  before  me,  and  I  was  delighted  with  the  opportu- 
nities which  would  be  afi"orded  me  of  pursuing  my  favorite 
subject.  I  had  an  undefined  feeling  about  the  many  countries 
I  was  about  to  visit,  which  filled  my  mind  with  vast  ideas  of 
travel  " 

Sive  per  Sj'rtes  iter  a;stuosas, 
Sire  facturus  per  inhospitalem 
Caucasum,  vel  quae  loca  fabulosus 
Lamliit  Hydaspes. 

I  was  in  some  degree  like  a  French  lady  of  my  acquaintance, 
who  had  so  general  a  notion  of  the  East,  that  upon  taking  leave 
of  her,  she  enjoined  me  to  get  acquainted  with  a  friend  of  hers, 
living  as  she  said,  quelque  part  dans  les  hides,  and  whom,  to  my 
astonishment,  I  found  residing  at  the  Gape  of  Good  Hope  ! 

I  will  not  say  that  all  my  dreams  were  realized,  for  perhaps 
no  country  in  the  world  less  comes  up  to  one's  expectation  than 
Persia,  whether  in  the  beauties  of  nature,  or  the  riches  and 
magnificence  of  its  inhabitants.  But  in  what  regards  manners 
and  customs,  it  appears  to  me  that  no  Asiatics  bear  so  strongly 


16  INTRODUCTORY    EPISTLE. 

the  stamp  of  an  ancient  origin  as  they.  Even  in  their  featares 
I  thought  to  have  distinguished  a  decided  originality  of  expres- 
sion, which  was  confirmed,  when  I  remarked,  that  the  numerous 
faces  seen  among  the  sculptures  of  Persepolis,  so  perfect  as  if 
chiseled  but  yesterday,  were  so  many  likenesses  of  modern  Per- 
sians, more  particularly  of  the  natives  of  the  province  of  Fars. 

During  my  long  residence  there,  I  never  lost  the  recollection 
of  our  conversation  on  the  sofa  of  the  Swedish  palace,  and 
every  time  I  added  an  anecdote  or  an  observation  illustrative  of 
Oriental  manners  to  my  store,  or  a  sketch  to  my  collection,  I 
always  thought  of  the  Reverend  Doctor  Fundgruben,  and 
sighed  after  that  imaginary  manuscript  which  some  imaginary 
native  of  the  East  must  have  written  as  a  complete  exposition 
of  the  life  of  his  countrymen. 

I  will  not  say,  learned  sir,  that  the  years  I  passed  in  Persia 
were  years  of  happiness  :  or  that  during  that  time  I  could  so 
far  keep  up  an  illusion,  that  I  was  living  among  the  patriarchs 
in  the  first  ages  of  the  world,  or  among  those  Persians  whose 
monarchs  gave  laws  to  almost  the  whole  of  Asia  ;  no,  I  sighed 
for  shaven  chins  and  swallow-tailed-coats;  and,  to  speak  the 
truth,  though  addressing  an  antiquary  of  your  celebrity,  I  felt 
that  I  would  rather  be  one  among  the  crowd  in  the  Graben  at 
Yienna,  or  in  our  own  Bond  Street,  than  at  liberty  to  range  in 
the  ease  of  solitude  among  the  ruins  of  the  palaces  of  Darius. 

At  length  the  day  of  my  departure  came,  and  I  left  Persia 
with  books  filled  with  remarks,  and  portfolios  abounding  in  ori- 
ginal sketches.  My  ideas  during  the  journey  were  wholly 
taken  up  with  schemes  for  the  future,  and  perhaps,  like  every 
other  traveller,  I  nourished  a  sort  of  sly  and  secret  conviction 
that  I  had  seen  and  observed  things  which  no  one  before  me 
had  ever  done,  and  that  when  I  came  to  publish  to  the  world 
the  fruits  of  my  discoveries,  I  should  create  a  sensation  equal 
at  least  to  the  discovery  of  a  new  planet. 

I  passed  at  the  foot  of  the  venerable  Mount  Ararat,  and  was 
fortunate  enough  to  meet  with  a  favorable  moment  for  traver- 
sing the  cold  regions  of  Armenia,  ^'  nee  Armeniis  in  oris  stat 
glacies  iners  menses  per  omnes ;''''    and  I  crossed  the  dangerous 


LVTRODUOTORY    EPISTLE.  17 

borders  of  Turkey  and  Persia  without  any  event  occurring  wor- 
thy of  record.  But  I  must  request  your  indulgent  attention  to 
what  befel  me  at  Tocat,  for  it  is  to  that  occurrence  you  are  in- 
debted for  this  letter,  and  the  world  for  the  accompanying- 
volumes. 

It  was  at  the  close  of  a  fatiguing  day's  journey,  that  I  and  my 
escort,  consisting  of  two  Tartars,  two  servants,  and  the  con- 
ductors of  our  baggage  and  post-horses,  entered  the  city  of 
Tocat.  Our  approach  was  as  usual  announced  by  the  howls  of 
the  Siirujees,  who  more  than  usually  exerted  their  lungs  in  my 
service,  because  they  felt  that  these  sounds,  the  harbingers  of 
rest  and  entertainment,  could  but  be  agreeable  to  weary  and 
jaded  travellers  like  ourselves.  The  moon  was  shining  bright, 
as  our  cavalcade  clattered  over  the  long  paved  road  leading  to 
the  city,  and  lighted  up,  in  awful  grandeur,  the  turret-topped 
peaks  which  rear  their  heads  on  the  crest  of  the  surrounding 
abrupt  crags.  On  entering  the  post-house,  I  was  immediately 
conducted  into  the  traveler's  room,  where  having  disencum- 
bered myself  of  my  cloak,  arms,  and  heavy  boots,  and  putting 
myself  at  ease  in  my  slippers  and  loose  dress,  I  quietly  enjoyed 
the  cup  of  strong  coffee  and  the  chihonk,  which  were  immedi- 
ately handed  to  me,  and  after  that  my  dish  of  rice,  my  tough 
fowl,  and  my  basin  of  sour  curds. 

I  was  preparing  to  take  my  night's  rest  on  the  sofas  of  the 
post-house,  where  my  bed  had  been  spread,  when  a  stranger 
unceremoniously  walked  into  the  room,  and  stood  before  me. 
I  remarked  that  he  was  a  Persian,  and,  by  his  dress,  a  servant. 
At  any  other  moment  I  should  have  been  happy  to  see  and  con- 
verse with  him,  because  having  lived  so  long  in  Persia,  I  felt 
myself  in  some  measure  identified  with  its  natives,  and  now  in  a 
country  where  both  nations  were  treated  with  the  same  degree 
of  contempt,  my  fellow-feeling  for  them  became  infinitely 
stronger. 

I  discovered  that  he  had  a  talc  of  misery  to  unfold,  from  the 
very  doleful  face  that  he  was  pleased  to  make  on  tlie  occasion, 
and  I  was  not  mistaken.  It  was  this — that  his  master,  one 
Mirza  Hajji  Baba,  now  on  his  return   from   Constantinople, 


18  INTRODUCTORY    EPISTLE. 

where  he  had  been  employed  on  the  Shah's  business,  had  fallen 
seriously  ill,  and  that  he  had  been  obliged  to  stop  at  Tocat, — 
that  he  had  taken  up  his  abode  at  the  caravanserai,  where  he 
had  already  spent  a  week,  during  which  time  he  had  been  at- 
tended by  a  Frank  doctor,  an  inhabitant  of  Tocat,  who,  instead 
of  curing,  had  in  fact  brought  him  to  his  last  gasp, — that  hav- 
ing heard  of  my  arrival  from  Persia,  he  had  brightened  up,  and 
requested,  without  loss  of  time,  that  I  would  call  upon  him,  for 
he  was  sure  the  presence  of  one  coming  from  his  own  country 
would  alone  restore  him  to  health.  In  short,  his  servant,  as  is 
usual  on  such  occasions,  finished  his  speech  by  saying,  that  with 
the  exception  of  God  and  myself,  he  had  nothing  left  to  depend 
upon  in  this  life. 

I  immediately  recollected  who  Mirza  Hajji  Baba  was ;  for 
although  I  had  lost  sight  of  him  for  several  years,  yet  once  on 
a  time  I  had  seen  much  of  him,  and  had  taken  great  interest  in 
every  thing  that  regarded  him,  owing  to  his  having  been  in 
England,  whither,  in  quality  of  secretary,  he  accompanied  the 
first  ambassador  which  Persia  had  sent  in  modern  times.  He 
had  since  been  employed  in  various  ways  in  the  government, 
sometimes  in  high  and  sometimes  in  lower  situations,  undergo- 
ing the  vicissitudes  which  are  sure  to  attend  every  Persian,  and 
at  length  had  been  sent  to  Constantinople,  as  a  resident  agent 
at  the  Porte  on  the  part  of  the  Shah. 

I  did  not  hesitate  an  instant,  tired  and  jaded  as  I  was,  im- 
mediately to  accompany  his  servant ;  and  in  the  same  garb  in 
which  I  was,  only  throwing  a  cloak  over  my  shoulders,  I  walked 
in  all  haste  to  the  caravanserai. 

There,  on  a  bed  spread  in  the  middle  of  a  small  room,  sur- 
rounded by  several  of  his.  servants,  I  found  the  sick  Mirza, 
looking  more  like  a  corpse  than  a  living  body.  When  I  had 
first  known  him  he  was  a  remarkably  handsome  man,  with  a 
fine  aquiline  nose,  oval  face,  an  expressive  countenance,  and  a 
well-made  person.  He  had  now  passed  the  meridian  of  life, 
but  his  features  were  still  fine,  and  his  eye  full  of  fire.  As 
soon  as  he  saw  he  recognized  me,  and  the  joy  which  he  felt  at 
the  meeting  broke  out  in   a  great  animation  of  his  features. 


INTRODUCTORY    EPISTLE.  19 

and  in  the  thousand  exclamations  so  common  to  a  Persian's 
lips. 

"  See,"  said  he,  "  what  a  fortunate  destiny  mine  is,  that  at 
a  moment  when  I  thought  the  angel  of  death  was  about  to 
seize  me  for  his  own,  the  angel  of  life  comes  and  blows  a  fresh 
existence  into  my  nostrils  I" 

After  his  first  transports  were  over,  I  endeavored  to  make 
him  explain  what  was  the  nature  of  his  complaint,  and  how  it 
had  hitherto  been  treated.  I  saw  plainly,  by  his  saffron  hue, 
that  bile  was  the  occasion  of  his  disorder,  and  as  I  had  had 
great  experience  in  treating  it  during  my  stay  in  Persia,  I  did 
not  hesitate  to  cheer  up  his  hopes  by  an  assurance  of  being 
able  to  relieve  him. 

"  What  can  I  say  ?"  said  he.  "  I  thought  at  first  that  I  had 
been  struck  with  the  plague.  My  head  ached  intensely,  my 
eyes  became  dim,  I  had  a  pain  in  my  side,  and  a  nauseous  taste 
in  my  mouth,  and  expected  to  die  on  the  third  day ;  but  no, 
the  symptoms  still  continue,  and  I  am  alive.  As  soon  as  I 
arrived  here,  I  inquired  for  a  physician,  and  was  told  there 
were  two  practitioners  in  the  town,  a  Jew  and  a  Prank.  Of 
course  I  chose  the  latter,  but,  'tis  plain,  that  my  evil  star  had 
a  great  deal  to  say  in  the  choice  I  made.  I  have  not  yet  been 
able  to  discover  to  what  tribe  among  the  Franks  he  belongs — 
certainly  he  is  not  an  Englishman.  But  a  more  extraordinary 
ass  never  existed  in  this  world,  be  his  nation  what  it  may.  I 
began  by  telling  him  that  I  was  very,  very  ill.  All  he  said  in 
answer,  with  a  grave  face,  was,  '  Mashallah  !  Praise  be  to  God  !' 
and  when,  in  surprise  and  rage,  I  cried  out,  '  but  I  shall  die, 
man  1'  with  the  same  grave  face,  he  said,  '  Inshallah!  Please 
God  1'  My  servants  were  about  to  thrust  him  out  of  the  room, 
when  they  found  that  he  knew  nothing  of  our  language  ex- 
cepting these  two  words,  which  he  had  only  learnt  to  misapply. 
Supposing  that  he  still  might  know  something  of  his  profes- 
sion, I  agreed  to  take  his  medicine ;  but  I  might  have  saved 
myself  the  trouble,  for  I  have  been  daily  getting  worse." 

Here  the  Mirza  stopped  to  take  breath.  I  did  not  permit 
him  to  exert  hiuusclf  further,  but,  without  loss  of  time,  returned 


20  iNTRODUCTony  epistle. 

to  the  post-house,  applied  to  my  medicine-chest,  and  prepared 
a  dose  of  calomel,  which  was  administered  that  evening  with 
all  due  solemnity. '   I  then  retired  to  rest. 

The  next  morning  I  repaired  to  his  bed-side,  and  there  to 
my  great  satisfaction,  found  that  my  medicine  had  performed 
wonders.  The  patient's  eyes  were  opened,  the  head-ache  had 
in  great  measure  ceased,  and  he  was,  in  short,  a  different 
person.  I  was  received  by  him  and  his  servants  with  all  the 
honors  due  to  the  greatest  sage,  and  they  could  not  collect 
words  sufficiently  expressive  of  their  admiration  of  my  pro- 
found skill.  As  they  were  pouring  forth  their  thanks,  and 
gratitude,  looking  up  I  saw  a  strange  figure  in  the  room, 
whose  person  I  must  take  the  liberty  to  describe,  so  highly 
ludicrous  and  extravagant  did  it  appear.  He  was  of  the 
middle  size,  rather  inclined  to  be  corpulent,  with  thick  black 
eye-brows,  dark  eyes,  a  three  days'  beard,  and  moustaches.  He 
wore  the  Turkish  long  dress,  from  his  shoulders  downwards — 
yellow  pabouches,  shawl  to  his  waist,  and  carried  a  long  cane 
in  his  hand  ;  but  from  his  shoulders  up  he  was  a  European — a 
neckcloth,  his  hair  dressed  in  the  aile  de  pigeon  fashion,  a 
thick  tail  clubbed,  and  over  all  an  old-fashioned,  three-cornered 
laced  hat.  This  redoubtable  personage  made  me  a  bow,  and 
at  the  same  time  accosted  me  in  Italian.  I  was  not  long  in 
discovering  that  he  was  my  rival,  the  doctor,  and  that  he  was 
precisely  what,  from  the  description  of  the  Mirza,  I  expected 
him  to  be,  viz.,  an  itinerant  quack,  who  perhaps  might  once 
have  mixed  medicines  in  some  apothecary's  shop  in  Italy  or 
Constantinople,  and  who  had  now  set  up  for  himself,  in  this 
remote  corner  of  Asia,  where  he  might  physic  and  kill  at  his 
pleasure. 

I  did  not  shrink  from  his  acquaintance,  because  I  was  cer- 
tain that  the  life  and  adventures  of  such  a  person  must  be 
highly  curious  and  entertaining,  and  I  cordially  encouraged 
him  in  his  advances,  hoping  thus  to  acquire  his  coniidence. 

He  very  soon  informed  me  who  he  was,  and  what  were  his 
pursuits,  and  did  not  seem  to  take  the  least  umbrage  at  my 
having  prescribed  for  bis  patient  without  previously  consult- 


INTRODUCTORY   EPISTLE,  21 

ing  him.  His  name  was  Ludovico  Pestello,  and  he  pretended 
to  have  studied  at  Padua,  where  he  had  got  his  diploma.  lie 
had  not  long  arrived  at  Constantinople,  with  the  intention  of 
setting  up  for  himself,  where,  finding  that  the  city  overflowed 
with  Esculapii,  he  was  persuaded  to  accompany  a  Pasha  of  two 
tails  to  Tocat,  who  had  recently  been  appointed  to  its  govern- 
ment, and  was  there  now  established  as  his  body  physician.  I 
suspected  this  story  to  be  a  fabrication,  and  undertook  to  ex- 
amine his  knowledge  of  physic,  particularly  in  the  case  of  my 
friend  the  Persian  Mirza.  The  galimatia  which  he  unfolded, 
as  we  proceeded,  was  so  extremely  ridiculous,  and  he  puzzled 
himself  so  entirely  by  his  answers  to  the  plain  questions 
which  I  put,  that  at  length,  not  being  able  to  proceed,  he 
joined,  with  the  best  good  nature  possible,  in  the  horse  laugh, 
from  which  I  could  not  refrain.  I  made  him  candidly  confess 
that  he  knew  nothing  of  medicine,  more  than  having  been  ser- 
vant to  a  doctor  of  some  eminence  at  Padua,  where  he  had 
picked  up  a  smattering;  and  that,  as  all  his  patients  were 
heretics  and  abominable  Mussulmans,  he  never  could  feel  any 
remorse  for  those  which  during  his  practice  he  had  dispatched 
from  this  world.  "  But,  caro  Signor  Dottore,^^  said  I,  "  how  in 
the  name  of  all  that  is  sacred,  have  you  managed  hitherto 
not  to  have  had  your  bones  broken  ?  Turks  are  dangerous 
tools  to- play  with." 

"Oh,"  said  he,  in  great  unconcern,  "the  Turks  believe  any- 
thing, and  I  take  care  never  to  give  them  medicine  that  can  do 
harm." 

"  But  you  must  have  drugs,  and  you  must  apply  them,"  said 
I,  "  where  are  they  ?" 

"  I  have  different  colored  liquids,"  said  he,  "  and  as  long  as 
there  is  bread  and  water  to  be  had,  I  am  never  at  a  loss  for  a 
pill.  I  perform  all  my  cures  with  them,  accompanied  by  the 
words  Inshallah  and  Masliallah .'" 

"  Bread  and  water !  wonderful !"  did  I  exclaim. 

"  Signor,  «^,"  said  he,  "  I  sprinkle  my  pills  with  a  little  flour 
for  the  common  people,  cover  them  with  gold  leaf  for  my  higher 


22  .>  INTRODUCTORY    EPISTLE. 

patients,  tlie  Agas  and  the  Pacha,  and  they  all  swallow  them 
without  even  a  wry  face." 

I  was  so  highly  amused  by  the  account  which  this  extraor- 
dinary fellow  gave  of  himself,  of  the  life  he  led,  and  of  the  odd 
adventures  which  he  had  met  with,  that  I  invited  him  to  dine ; 
and  were  it  not  for  the  length  to  which  this  letter  has  already  run, 
I  should  perhaps  have  thought  it  right  to  make  you  partake  of 
my  entertainment  by  retailing  his  narrative.  I  repaid  him,  as 
he  said,  over  and  above,  by  presents  from  my  medicine-chest, 
which  he  assured  me  would  be  plentifully  sufficient  to  adminis- 
ter relief  to  the  whole  of  Asia  Minor. 

I  could  not  think  of  leaving  the  poor  Persian  in  such  hands ; 
and  feeling  that  I  might  be  the  means  of  saving  his  life,  I  de- 
termined to  remain  at  Tocat  until  I  saw  him  out  of  danger. 

After  three  days'  administration  of  calomel,  Hajji  Baba's 
complexion  was  much  restored  to  its  original  hue,  and  as  he 
might  now  be  said  to  be  free  from  danger,  and  in  a  fair  way  of 
recovery,  I  proposed  proceeding  on  my  journey.  The  poor 
man  could  not  find  words  for  the  expression  of  his  gratitude, 
and  I  saw  that  he  was  laboring  hard  to  discover  a  present 
worthy  of  my  acceptance.  At  length,  just  before  taking  my 
leave,  he  desired  his  servants  to  leave  us  alone,  and  spoke  to 
me  in  the  following  words  : 

"  You  have  saved  my  life  ;  you  are  my  old  friend  and  my  de- 
liverer. What  can  I  do  to  show  my  gratitude  ?  Of  worldly 
goods  I  have  but  few ;  it  is  long  since  I  have  received  any 
salary  from  my  government,  and  the  little  money  I  have  here 
will  barely  suffice  to  take  me  to  my  own  country.  Besides,  I 
know  the  English — they  are  above  such  considerations — it 
would  be  in  vain  to  offer  them  a  pecuniary  reward.  But  I 
have  that  by  me  which,  perhaps,  may  have  some  'value  in  your 
eyes— I  can  assure  you  that  it  has  in  mine.  Ever  since  I  have 
known  your  nation,  I  have  remarked  their  inquisitiveness  and 
eagerness  after  knowledge.  V/henever  I  have  traveled  with 
them,  I  observed  they  record  their  observations  in  books ;  and 
when  they  return  home,  thus  make  their  fellow-countrymen  ac- 
quainted with  the  most  distant  regions  of  the  globe.     Will  you 


INTRODUCTORY    EPISTLE.  23 

believe  me,  that  I,  Persian  as  I  am,  have  followed  their  ex- 
ample, and  that  during  the  period  of  my  residence  at  Constan- 
tinople I  have  passed  my  time  in  writing  a  detailed  history  of 
my  life,  which,  although  that  of  a  very  obscure  and  ordinary 
individual,  is  still  so  full  of  vicissitudes  and  adventure,  that  I 
think  it  would  not  fail  to  create  an  interest  if  published  in 
Europe  ?  I  offer  it  to  you ;  and  in  so  doing,  I  assure  you  that  I 
wish  to  show  you  the  confidence  I  place  in  your  generosity,  for 
I  never  would  have  offered  it  to  any  one  else.  Will  you  ac- 
cept it  ?" 

Conceive,  my  dear  sir,  conceive  my  happiness  upon  hearing 
this — upon  at  length  getting  into  my  possession  precisely  the 
sort  of  work  which  you  so  long  since  had  looked  upon  as  a  de- 
sideratum in  the  history  of  mankind,  and  which  I  had  utterly 
despaired  of  ever  seeing  in  reality. 

My  eyes,  I  am  sure,  glistened  with  pleasure  when  I  ex- 
pressed my  sense  of  the  Mirza's  liberality ;  and  as  fast  as  I  re- 
fused his  offer,  (for  I  thought  it  but  generous  to  do  so  upon 
the  terms  he  proposed,)  the  more  he  pressed  it  upon  me. 

As  a  farther  inducement,  he  said,  that  he  was  going  back  to 
his  country,  uncertain  if  he  enjoyed  the  favor  of  the  Shah  ;  and 
as  he  had  freely  expressed  his  sentiments,  which  included  his 
.observations  upon  England,  he  was  afraid,  should  he  be  in  dis- 
grace, and  his  v/ork  be  found  upon  hiin,  that  it  might  lead  to 
his  destruction. 

Unable  to  withstand  these  entreaties,  I  at  length  acceded  to 
his  request,  and  became  the  possessor  of  the  manuscript.  It 
forms  the  subject  of  the  following  work ;  and  tell  me,  can  I 
dedicate  to  any  but  him  who  first  awakened  my  mind  to  its 
value  ?  If  you  will  do  me  the  favor  to  peruse  it,  you  will  find 
I  have  done  my  best  endeavor  to  adapt  it  to  the  taste  of 
European  readers,  divesting  it  of  the  numerous  repetitious,  and 
the  tone  of  exaggeration  and  hyperbole  which  pervade  tho 
compositions  of  the  Easterns ;  but  still  you  will  no  doubt  dis- 
cover much  of  that  deviation  from  truth  and  perversion  of 
chronology  which  characterize  them.  However,  of  the  matter 
contained  in  the  book,  this  I  must  say,  that  having  lived  iu  tho 


24  INTRODUCTORY    EPISTLE. 

country  myself  during  the  time  to  which  it  refers,  I  find  that 
most  of  the  incidents  are  grounded  upon  fact,  which,  although 
not  adhered  to  with  that  scrupulous  regard  to  truth  which  we 
might  expect  from  a  European  writer,  yet  are  sufficient  to  give 
an  insight  into  manners.  Many  of  them  will  no  doubt  appear 
improbable  to  those  who  have  never  visited  the  scenes  upon 
which  they  were  acted ;  and  it  is  natural  it  should  be  so, 
because,  from  the  nature  of  circumstances,  such  events  could 
only  occur  in  Eastern  countries. 

A  distinct  line  must  ever  be  drawn  between  "  the  nations 
who  wear  the  hat  and  those  who  wear  the  beard;"  and  they 
must  ever  hold  each  other's  stories  as  improbable,  until  a  more 
general  intercourse  of  common  life  takes  place  between  them. 
What  is  moral  and  virtuous  with  the  one,  is  wickedness  with  the 
other — that  which  the  Christian  reviles  as  abominable,  is  by 
the  Mohamedan  held  sacred.  Although  the  conti'ast  between 
their  respective  manners  may  be  very  amusing,  still  it  is  most 
certain  that  the  former  will  ever  feel  devoutly  grateful  that  he 
is  neither  subject  to  Mohomedan  rule,  nor  educated  in  Moha- 
medan principles ;  whilst  the  latter,  looking  upon  the  rest  of 
mankind  as  unclean  infidels,  will  continue  to  hold  fast  to  his 
bigoted  persuasion,  until  some  powerful  interposition  of  Provi- 
dence shall  dispel  the  moral  and  intellectual  darkness,  which, 
at  present,  overhangs  so  large  a  portion  of  the  Asiatic  world. 

Fearing  to  increase  the  size  of  the  work,  I  have  refrained 
adding  the  numerous  notes  which  my  long  residence  in  Persia 
would  have  enabled  me  to  do,  and  have  only  occasionally  made 
explanations  necessary  to  understand  the  narrative.  In  the 
same  fear,  I  have  not  ventured  to  take  Hajji  out  of  his  own 
country.  His  remarks  upon  England  during  his  residence 
there,  and  during  his  travels,  may  perhaps  be  thought  worthy 
of  future  notice ;  and  should  they  be  called  for,  I  will  do  my 
best  endeavor  to  interpret  his  feelings  as  near  to  nature  as  pos- 
sible. 

I  must  now,  dear  sir,  take  my  leave,  expressing  my  regret  at 
your  absence  from  Constantinople  on  my  return  from  Persia ; 
for  had  I  then  been  fortunate  enough  to  meet  you,  no  doubt, 


INTRODUCTORY    EPISTLE.  25 

from  the  valuable  hints  which  you  would  have  afforded  me,  the 
work  now  presented  to  you  would  have  been  in  every  way  more 
worthy  of  your  acceptance.  But  you  were  far  better  engaged  j 
you  were  seeking  another  Oasis  in  the  wilds  of  the  desert,  (that 
emblem  of  yourself  in  hieroglyphic  lore,)  to  which,  so  I  was 
informed,  you  expected  to  have  been  guided  by  information 
gained  in  the  inside  wrappers  of  one  of  your  most  interesting 
Mummies. 

May  your  footsteps  have  been  fortunate,  and  may  I  live  to 
have  the  pleasure  of  assuring  you  by  word  of  mouth  how  truly 
I  am,  esteemed  and  learned  sir, 

Your  very  devoted  and  obliged  humble  servant, 

P P . 

3 


THE 


ADVENTURES    OF    HAJJI    BABA, 


IN 


TURKEY,  PERSIA  AND  RUSSIA. 


CHAPTER  I. 

OF   HAJJI    BABa's    BIETH    AND    EDUCATION. 

My  father,  Kerbelai  Hassan,  was  one  of  the  most  celebrated 
barbers  of  Ispahan.  He  was  married,  when  only  seventeen 
years  of  age,  to  the  daughter  of  a  chandler,  who  lived  in  the 
neighborhood  of  his  shop ;  but  the  connection  was  not  fortu- 
nate, for  his  wife  gave  him  no  offspring,  and  he,  in  consequence, 
neglected  her.  His  dexterity  in  the  use  of  the  razor  had 
gained  for  him,  together  with  no  little  renown,  such  great 
custom,  particularly  among  the  merchants,  that  after  twenty 
years'  industry,  he  found  he  could  afford  to  add  a  second  wife 
to  his  harem ;  and  succeeded  in  obtaining  the  daughter  of  a 
rich  money  changer,  whose  head  he  had  shaved,  during  that 
period,  with  so  much  success,  that  he  made  no  difficulty  in 
granting  his  daughter  to  my  father.  In  order  to  get  rid,  for 
a  while,  of  the  importunities  and  jealousy  of  his  first  wife,  and 
also  to  acquire  the  good  opinion  of  his  father-in-law,  (who, 
although  noted  for  clipping  money,  and  passing  it  for  lawful, 
affected  to  be  a  saint,)  he  undertook  a  pilgrimage  to  the  tomb 
of  Hosein,  at  Kerbelah.  He  took  his  new  wife  with  him,  and 
she  was  delivered  of  me  on  the  road.  Before  the  journey  took 
place  he  was  generally  known,  simply  as  "  Hassan  the  barber  ;" 
but  ever  after,  he  was  honored  by  the  epithet  of  Kerbelai ;  and 

(27) 


28  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA, 

I,  to  please  my  mother,  who  spoiled  me,  was  called  Hajji,  or 
the  pilgrim,  a  name  which  stuck  to  me  through  life,  and  pro- 
cured for  me  a  great  deal  of  unmerited  respect ;  because,  in 
fact,  that  honored  title  is  seldom  conferred  on  any  but  those 
who  have  made  the  great  pilgrimage  to  the  tomb  of  the  blessed 
Prophet  at  Mecca. 

My  father  having  left  his  business  during  his  absence  to  his 
chief  apprentice,  resumed  it  with  increased  industry  on  his  re- 
turn ;  and  the  reputation  he  had  acquired  by  his  pious  journey 
of  being  a  zealous  Mussulman,  attracted  the  clergy,  as  well  as 
the  merchants,  to  his  shop.  It  being- intended  that  I  should  be 
brought  up  to  the  strap,  I  should  perhaps  have  not  received 
more  of  an  education  than  was  necessary  to  teach  me  my 
prayers,  had  I  not  been  noticed  by  a  mollah,  who  kept  a  school . 
in  an  adjoining  mosque,  whom  my  father  (to  keep  up  the  cha- 
racter he  had  acquired  of  being  a  good  man)  used  to  shave  once 
a  week,  as  he  was  wont  to  explain,  purely  for  the  love  of  God. 
The  holy  man  repaid  the  service  by  teaching  me  to  read  and 
write ;  and  I  made  such  progress  under  his  care,  that  in  two 
years  I  could  decipher  the  Koran,  and  began  to  write  a  legible 
hand.  When  not  in  school  I  attended  the  shop,  where  I  learnt 
the  rudiments  of  my  profession,  and  when  there  was  a  press  of 
customers,  was  permitted  to  practice  upon  the  heads  of  mule- 
teers and  camel-drivers,  who  indeed  sometimes  paid  dear  for 
my  first  essays. 

By  the  time  I  was  sixteen  it  would  be  difficult  to  say  whether 
I  was  most  accomplished  as  a  barber  or  a  scholar.  Besides 
shaving  the  head,  cleaning  the  ears,  and  trimming  the  beard,  I 
became  famous  for  my  skill  in  the  offices  of  the  bath.  No  one 
understood  better  than  I  the  different  modes  of  rubbing  or 
shampooing,  as  practiced  in  India,  Cashmere,  and  Turkey ;  and 
I  had  an  art  peculiar  to  myself  of  making  the  joints  to  crack, 
and  my  slaps  resound. 

Thanks  to  my  master,  I  had  learnt  sufficiently  of  our  poets 
to  enable  me  to  enliven  conversation  with  occasional  apt  quota- 
tions from  Saadi,  Hafiz,  &c. ;  this  accomplishment,  added  to  a 
good  voice,  made  me  considered  as  an  agreeable  companion  by 
all  those  whose  crowns  or  limbs  were  submitted  to  my  opera- 
tion. In  short,  it  may,  without  vanity,  be  asserted  that  Hajji 
Baba  was  quite  the  fashion  among  the  men  of  taste  and 
pleasure. 

My  father's  shop  being  situated  near  the  Royal  Caravan- 
serai, the  largest  and  most  frequented  in  the  city,  was  the  re- 
sort of  most  of  the  foreign,  as  well  as  of  the  resident  merchants  ; 
they  not  unfrequently  gave  him  something  over  and  above  the 


OF    HAJJI    BABa's    birth    AND    EDUCATIOX.  29 

usual  price,  for  the  entertainment  they  found  in  the  repartees 
of  his  hopeful  son.  One  of  them,  a  Bagdad  merchant,  took 
great  fancy  to  me,  and  always  insisted  that  I  should  attend 
upon  him,  in  preference  even  to  my  more  experienced  father. 
He  made  me  converse  with  him  in  Turkish,  of  which  I  had 
acquired  a  slight  knowledge,  and  so  excited  my  curiosity  by 
describing  the  beauties  of  the  diiferent  cities  which  he  had 
visited,  that  I  soon  felt  a  strong  desire  to  travel.  He  was  then 
in  want  of  some  one  to  keep  his  accounts,  and  as  I  associated 
the  two  qualifications  of  barber  and  scribe,  he  made  me  such 
advantageous  offers,  to  enter  into  his  service,  that  I  agreed  to 
follow  him;  and  immediately  mentioned  my  determination  to 
my  father.  My  father  was  very  loth  to  lose  me,  and  en- 
deavored to  persuade  me  not  to  leave  a  certain  profession  for 
one  which  was  likely  to  be  attended  with  danger  and  vicissi- 
tudes ;  but  when  he  found  how  advantageous  were  the  mer- 
chant's offers,  and  that  it  was  not  impossible  that  I  might  be- 
come one  myself  in  time,  he  gradually  ceased  to  dissuade  my 
going ;  and  at  length  gave  me  his  blessing,  accompanied  by  a 
new  case  of  razors. 

My  mother's  regret  for  the  loss  of  my  society,  and  her  fears 
for  my  safety,  derived  no  alleviation  from  the  prospect  of  my 
expected  future  aggrandizement ;  she  augured  no  good  from  a 
career  begun  in  the  service  of  a  »S'^«^^,•*  but  still,  as  a  mark  of 
her  maternal  affection,  she  gave  me  a  bag  of  broken  biscuit, 
accompanied  by  a  small  tin  case  of  a  precious  unguent,  which, 
she  told  me,  would  cure  all  fractures,  and  internal  complaints. 
She  further  directed  me  to  leave  the  house  with  my  face  towards 
the  door,  by  way  of  propitiating  a  happy  return  from  a  journey 
undertaken  under  such  inauspicious  circumstances. 

*  It  is  needless  to  remind  the  reader,  that  the  Mussulmans  are  divided  into 
two  religious  and  inimical  sects;  viz.  Suni  and  Shiah. ;  and  that  the  Turks 
are  of  the  former,  and  the  Persians  of  the  latter  persuasion.  The  Sunies  hold, 
that  Omar,  Osman,  and  Abubekr,  were  the  lawful  successors  of  Mohamed. 
The  Shiahs  assert,  that  they  were  usurpers,  and  that  Ali,  his  son-in-law,  was 
the  next  in  succession. 

3* 


\ 


CHAPTER  II. 

HAJJI    BABA    COMMENCES    HIS   TRAVELS. 

OsMAN  Aga,  tny  master,  was  now  on  a  journey  to  Meshed, 
the  object  of  which  was  to  purchase  the  lamb  skins  of  Bokhara, 
which  he  afterwards  purposed  to  convey  to  Constantinople  for 
sale.  Imagine  a  short  squat  man,  with  a  large  head,  prominent 
spongy  nose,  and  a  thick,  black  beard,  and  you  will  see  my 
fellow  traveler.  He  was  a  good  Mussulman,  very  strict  in  his 
devotions,  and  never  failed  to  pull  off  his  stockings,  even  in  the 
coldest  morning,  to  wash  his  feet,  in  order  that  his  ablutions 
might  be  perfect ;  and,  withal,  he  was  a  great  hater  of  the  sect 
of  Ali,  a  feeling  he  strictly  kept  to  himself,  as  long  as  he  was  in 
Persia.  His  prevailing  passion  was  love  of  gain,  and  he  never 
went  to  sleep  without  having  ascertained  that  his  money  was 
deposited  in  a  place  of  safety.  He  was,  however,  devoted  to 
his  own  ease ;  smoked  constantly,  eat  much,  and  secretly  drank 
wine,  although  he  denounced  eternal  perdition  to  those  who 
indulged  in  it  openly. 

The  caravan  was  appointed  to  collect  in  the  spring,  and 
we  made  preparations  for  our  departure.  My  master  bought 
a  strong,  ambling  mule  for  his  own  riding ;  whilst  I  was  pro- 
vided with  a  horse,  which,  besides  myself,  bore  the  pipe,  (for 
he  adopted  the  Persian  style  of  smoking,)  the  fire-pan  and 
leather  bottle,  the  charcoal,  and  also  my  own  wardrobe.  A 
black  slave,  who  cooked  for  us,  spread  the  carpets,  loaded  and 
unloaded  the  beasts,  bestrode  another  mule,  upon  which  were 
piled  the  bedding,  carpets,  and  kitchen  utensils.  A  third,  car- 
rying a  pair  of  trunks,  in  which  were  my  master's  wardrobe, 
and  every  other  necessary,  completed  our  equipment. 

Tlie  day  before  our  departure,  the  prudent  Osman  had  taken 
the  precaution  to  sew  into  the  cotton  wadding  of  his  heavy 
turban  fifty  ducats,  a  circumstance  known  only  to  him  and  me, 
and  these  were  to  serve  in  case  of  accidents ;  for  the  remainder 
of  his  cash,  with  which  he  intended  to  make  his  purchases,  was 
sewn  up  in  small  white  leather  bags  and  deposited  in  the  very 
•centre  of  the  trunks. 

The  cai'avan,  being  ready  to  depart,  consisted  of  about  five 
hundred  mules  and  horses,  and  two  hundi'ed  camels,  most  of 
which  were  laden  with  merchandise  for  the  north  of  Persia,  and 
(30) 


HAJJI    BABA    COMMENCES    HIS   TRAVELS.  31 

escorted  by  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  men,  composed  of 
merchants,  their  servants,  and  the  conductors  of  the  caravan. 
Besides  these,  a  small  body  of  pilgrims  bound  to  the  tomb  of 
Imam  Reza,  at  Meshed,  joined  the  caravan,  and  gave  a  charac- 
ter of  sanctity  to  the  procession  of  which  the  other  members 
of  it  were  happy  to  take  advantage,  considering  in  what  high 
estimation  persons  bound  upon  so  laudable  purpose  as  a  pil- 
grimage are  always  supposed  to  be  held. 

Every  man  on  these  occasions  is  armed,  and  my  master,  who 
always  turned  his  head  away  whenever  a  gun  was  fired,  and 
became  pale  at  the  sight  of  a  drawn  sword,  now  appeared  with 
a  long  carbine  slung  obliquely  across  his  back,  and  a  crooked 
sword  by  his  side,  whilst  a  pair  of  huge  pistols  projected  from 
his  girdle ;  the  rest  of  his  surface  was  almost  made  up  of  the 
apparatus  of  cartouch-boxes,  powder-flasks,  ramrods,  &c.  I 
also  was  armed  cap-a-pie,  only  in  addition  to  what  my  master 
carried,  I  was  honored  by  wielding  a  huge  spear.  The  black 
slave  had  a  sword  with  only  half  a  blade,  and  a  gun  without  a 
lock. 

We  started  at  break  of  day  from  the  northern  suburb  of 
Ispahan,  led  by  the  chaoushes*  of  the  pilgrimage,  who  an- 
nounced our  departure  by  loud  cries  and  the  beating  of  tlieir 
copper  drums.  We  soon  got  acquahited  with  our  fellow  tra- 
vellers, who  were  all  armed ;  but  who,  notwithstanding  their 
martial  equipment,  appeared  to  be  very  peaceably  disposed 
persons.  I  was  delighted  with  the  novelty  of  the  scene,  and 
could  not  help  galloping  and  curvetting  my  horse  to  the  an- 
noyance of  my  master,  who,  in  a  somewhat  crabbed  tone,  bid 
me  keep  in  mind  that  the  beast  would  not  last  the  journey  if  I 
wore  it  out  by  unseasonable  feats  of  horsemanship.  I  soon 
became  a  favorite  with  all  the  company,  many  of  whom  I 
shaved  after  the  day's  march  was  over.  As  for  my  master,  it 
is  not  too  much  to  say  that  I  was  a  great  source  of  comfort  to 
him,  for  after  the  fatigue  of  sitting  his  mule  was  at  an  end,  I 
practised  many  of  the  arts  which  I  had  acquired  at  the  bath 
to  do  away  the  stiffness  of  his  limits,  by  kneading  his  body  all 
over,  and  rubbing  him  with  my  hands. 

We  proceeded  without  impediment  to  Tehran,  where  we 
sojourned  ten  days  to  rest  our  mules  and  to  increase  our  num- 
bers. The  dangerous  part  of  the  journey  was  to  come,  as  a 
tribe  of  Turcomans,  who  were  at  war  with  the  King  of  Persia, 


*  Officers  whose  duties  are  to  iiml  quarters  for  the  pilgrims,  establish  the 
prices  of  provisions,  make  arrangenioiits  for  their  siipplj',  regulate  the  hours 
of  march,  settle  disputes,  and  announce  the  time  of  prayer,  kc. 


32  THE    ADVENTURES    OF    HAJJI    BABA. 

were  known  to  infest  the  road,  and  had  lately  attacked  and 
plundered  a  caravan,  whilst  at  the  same  time  they  had  carried 
those  who  composed  it  into  captivity.  Such  were  the  horrors 
related  of  the  Turcomans,  that  many  of  our  party,  and  my 
master  in  particular,  were  fearful  of  proceeding  to  Meshed; 
but  the  account  he  received  of  the  enormous  price  of  lamb's 
skins  at  Constantinople  was  so  alluring,  that,  in  spite  of  every 
thing,  he  resolved  not  to  be  frightened  out  of  his  prospect  of 
gain. 

A  chaoush  had  long  been  collecting  pilgrims  at  Tehran  and 
its  vicinity,  in  the  expectation  of  the  arrival  of  our  caravan, 
and  as  soon  as  we  had  made  our  appearance,  he  informed  us, 
that  he  was  ready  to  join  us  with  a  numerous  band,  a  rein- 
forcement which  he  assured  us  we  ought  to  receive  with  grati- 
tude, considering  the  dangers  which  we  were  about  to  encounter. 
He  was  a  character  well  known  on  the  road  between  Tehran 
and  Meshed,  and  enjoyed  a  great  reputation  for  courage,  which 
he  had  acquired  for  having  cut  off  a  Turcoman's  head  whom 
he  had  once  found  dead  on  the  road.  His  appearance  was 
most  formidable,  being  in  person  tall  and  broad-shouldered, 
with  a  swarthy,  sun-burnt  face,  ornamented  by  a  few  stiff  hairs 
by  way  of  beard  at  the  end  of  a  bony  chin.  Clad  in  a  breast- 
plate of  iron,  a  helmet  with  a  chain  cape  flapping  over  his 
shoulders,  a  curved  sword  by  his  side,  pistols  in  his  girdle,  a 
shield  slung  behind  his  back,  and  a  long  spear  in  his  hand,  he 
seemed  to  bid  defiance  to  danger.  He  made  such  boast  of  his 
prowess,  and  talked  of  the  Turcomans  \\dth  such  contempt,  that 
my  master  determined  to  proceed  under  his  immediate  escort. 
The  caravan  was  ready  to  depart  a  week  after  the  festival  of 
the  New  Year's  day,  and  after  having  performed  our  devotions 
at  the  great  mosque  of  the  congregation  on  the  Friday,  we 
went  to  the  village  of  Shahabdul  Azim,  whence  the  whole  body 
was  to  proceed  the  next  day  on  its  journey. 

We  advanced  by  slow  marches  over  a  parched  and  dreary 
country,  that  afforded  little  to  relieve  the  eye  or  cheer  the 
heart.  Whenever  we  approached  a  village,  or  met  travellers 
on  the  road,  invocations  of  Allah  and  of  the  Prophet  were  made 
by  our  conductors,  in  loud  and  shrill  tones,  accompanied  by 
repeated  blows  with  a  leather  throng  on  the  drums  suspended 
to  their  saddle-bow.  Our  conversation  chiefly  turned  upon  the 
Turcomans,  and  although  we  were  all  agreed  that  they  were  a 
desperate  enemy,  yet  we  managed  to  console  ourselves  by  the 
hope  that  nothing  could  withstand  our  numbers  and  appear- 
ance, and  by  repeatedly  exclaiming,  "In  the  name  of  God, 
whose  dogs  are  they,  that  they  should  think  of  attacking  us  ?" 
Everv  one  vaunted  his  own  courage.     Mv  master  above  the 


HAJJI   BABA    COMMENCES    HIS   TRAVELS.  33 

rest,  with  his  teeth  actually  chattering  from  apprehension, 
boasted  of  what  he  would  do,  in  case  we  were  attacked ;  and, 
to  hear  his  language,  one  would  suppose  that  he  had  done  no- 
thing all  his  life  but  fight  and  slaughter  Turcomans!  The 
chaoush,  who  overheard  his  boastings,  and  who  was  jealous 
of  being  considered  the  only  man  of  courage  of  the  party,  said 
aloud,  "No  one  can  speak  of  the  Turcomans,  until  they  have 
seen  them — and  none  but  an  '  eater  of  lions,'  (at  the  same  time 
pulling  up  his  moustaches  towards  his  ears)  ever  came  unhurt 
out  of  their  clutches.  Saadi  speaks  truth  when  he  sayeth, 
'  A  young  man,  though  he  had  strength  of  arm,  and  the  force 
of  an  elephant,  will  kick  his  heel  ropes  to  pieces  with  fear  in 
the  day  of  battle.'" 

But  Osman  Aga's  principal  hope  of  security,  and  of  faring 
better  than  others  in  case  we  were  attacked,  was  in  the  circum- 
stance of  his  being  a  follower  of  Omar  ;*  and  by  way  of  pro- 
claiming it,  he  wound  a  piece  of  green  muslin  round  his  cap, 
and  gave  himself  out  as  an  emir,  or  a  descendant  of  the  Pro- 
phet, to  whom,  as  the  reader  may  guess,  he  was  no  more  allied 
than  to  the  mule  upon  which  he  rode. 

We  had  proceeded  in  this  manner  for  several  days,  when  the 
chaoush  informed  us,  in  a  solemn  and  important  manner,  that 
we  were  now  approaching  to  the  places  where  the  Turcomans 
generally  lie  in  wait  for  caravans,  and  directed  that  we  should 
all  march  in  a  compact  body,  and  invited  us  to  make  prepara- 
tions for  a  desperate  resistance  in  case  we  were  attacked.  The 
first  impulse  of  my  master  was  to  tie  his  gun,  sword,  and  pis- 
tols on  one  of  his  baggage  mules.  He  then  complained  of  an 
affection  in  the  bowels,  and  so  abandoning  all  his  former  inten- 
tions of  engaging  in  combat,  wrapped  himself  up  in  the  folds 
of  his  cloak,  put  on  a  face  of  great  misery,  took  to  counting 
his  beads,  ever  and  anon  repeating  the  prayer  of  Staferallah, 
or  "  God  forgive  me,"  and  thus  prepared,  resigned  himself  to 
his  destiny.  His  greatest  dependence  he  seemed  to  have  placed 
upon  the  chaoush,  who,  among  other  reasons  for  asserting  his 
indifference  to  danger,  pointed  to  the  numerous  talismans  and 
spells  that  he  wore  bound  on  his  arms,  and  which,  he  freely 
maintained,  would  avert  the  arrow  of  a  Turcoman  at  any  time. 

This  double-bladed  sword  of  a  man,  and  one  or  two  of  the 
boldest  of  the  caravan,  rode  ahead,  at  some  distance,  as  an 
advanced  guard,  and  every  now  and  then,  by  way  of  keeping 
up  their  courage,  gallopped  their  horses,  brandishing  their 
lances,  and  thrusting  them  forward  into  the  air. 

*  The  Turcomans  are  of  the  Suni.  persuaeion  :  with  them  green  ia  a  eacred 
color ;  but  it  is  not  so  among  Shiaks. 


34  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

At  length,  what  we  so  much  apprehended  actually  camr  . 
pass.     We  heard  some  shots  fired,  and   then  our  ears  we 
struck   by  wild  and  barbarous  shoutings.     The  whole  of 
stopped  in  dismay,  and  men  and  animals,  as  if  by  common 
stin^t,  like  a  flock  of  small  birds  when  they  see  a  hawk  at 
distance,  huddled  ourselves  together  into  one  compact  bot 
But  when  we  in  reality  perceived  a  body  of  Turcomans  comin 
down  upon  us,  the  scene  instantly  changed.     Some  ran  away 
others,  and  among  them  my  master,  losing  all  their  energies, 
ceded  to  intense  fear,  and  began  to  exclaim,  "  Oh  Allah ! — Oh 
Imans  ! — Oh   Mohamed  the  prophet !  we  are  gone !  we  are 
dying  1  we  are  dead  1"     The  muleteers  unloosed  their  loads 
from  their  beasts,  and  drove  them  away.     A  shower  of  arrows, 
which  the  enemy  discharged  as  they  came  on,  achieved  their 
conquest,  and  we  soon  became  their  prey.     The  chaoush,  who 
had  outlived  many  a  similar  fray,  fled  in  tlie  very  first  encounter, 
and  we  never  more  saw  or  heard  anything  of  him.     The  inva- 
ders soon  fell  to  work  upon  the  baggage,  which  was  now  spread 
all  over  the  plain. 

My  master  had  rolled  himself  up  between  two  bales  of  goods 
to  wait  the  event,  but  was  discovered  by  a  Turcoman  of  great 
size,  and  of  a  most  ferocious  aspect,  who,  taking  him  at  first  for 
part  of  the  baggage,  turned  him  over  on  his  back,  when,  as  one 
has  seen  a  woodlouse  do,  he  opened  out  at  full  length,  and 
expressed  his  fears  by  the  most  abject  entreaties.  He  tried  to 
soften  the  Turcoman  by  invoking  Omar  and  cursing  Ali ;  but 
nothing  would  do  ;  the  barbarian  was  inexorable  ;  he  only  left 
him  in  possession  of  his  turban,  out  of  consideration  to  its 
color,  but  in  other  respects  he  completely  stripped  him,  leaving 
him  his  drawers  and  shirt  for  all  covering,  and  clothing  himself 
with  my  master's  comfortable  cloak  and  trowsers  before  his 
face.  My  clothes  being  scarcely  worth  the  taking,  I  was  per- 
mitted to  enjoy  them  unmolested,  and  I  retained  possession  of 
my  case  of  razors,  to  my  no  small  satisfaction. 

The  Turcomans  having  completed  their  plunder,  made  a  dis- 
tribution of  the  prisoners.  We  were  blindfolded,  and  placed 
each  of  us  behind  a  horseman,  and  after  having  traveled  for  a 
whole  day  in  this  manner,  we  rested  at  night  in  a  lonely  dell. 
The  next  day  we  were  permitted  to  see,  and  found  ourselves  on 
roads  known  only  to  the  Turcomans. 

Passing  through  wild  and  unfrequented  tracts  of  mountain- 
ous country,  we  at  length  discovered  a  large  plain,  which  was 
so  extensive  that  it  seemed  the  limits  of  the  world,  and  was 
covered  with  the  black  tents  and  the  numerous  flocks  and  herds 
of  our  enemies. 


CHAPTER    IIL 

HAJJI    BABA    IN    CAPTIVrTY. 

The  distribution  which  had  been  made  by  the  Turcomans  of 
their  prisoners  turned  out  so  far  fortunate,  that  Osmaa  Aga 
and  I  fell  into  the  hands  of  one  master,  the  savage  robber 
whom  I  have  before  mentioned.  He  was  called  Asian  Sultan, 
or  the  Lion  Chief,  and  proved  to  be  the  captain  of  a  consider- 
able encampment,  which  we  reached  almost  immediately  after 
descending  from  the  mountains  into  the  plain.  His  tents  were 
situated  on  the  borders  of  a  deep  ravine,  at  the  bottom  of  wiiich 
flowed  a  stream,  that  took  its  rise  in  a  chain  of  neighboring 
hills;  and  green  pastures,  teeming  with  cattle,  were  spread 
around  as  far  as  tlie  eye  could  reach.  Our  other  fellow  suffer- 
ers were  carried  into  a  distant  part  of  the  country,  and  dis- 
tributed among  the  different  tribes  of  Turcomans  who  inliabit 
this  region. 

At  our  appearance  the  whole  encampment  turned  out  to  loolc 
at  us,  and  whilst  our  conqueror  was  greeted  with  loud  welcomes, 
we  were  barked  at  and  nearly  devoured  by  a  pack  of  large 
sheep  dogs,  who  had  soon  selected  us  out  as  strangers.  My 
master's  green  shawl  had  hitherto  pix>cured  him  some  degree 
of  respect ;  but  the  chief  wife,  or  the  Banott,  as  she  was  called, 
was  seized,  at  first  sight,  with  a  strong  desire  to  possess  it ;  so 
he  was  left  with  no  other  covering  on  his  head  than  his  padded 
caouk,  which  contained  his  money.  That  too  was  longed  for 
by  another  wife,  who  said  that  it  would  just  do  to  stuff  the 
pack-saddle  which  had  galled  her  camePs  back,  and  it  was 
taken  from  his  head  and  thrown,  among  other  lumber,  into  a 
corner  of  the  tent.  He  did  all  he  could  to  keep  possession  of 
this  last  remnant  of  his  fortune,  but  to  no  purpose ;  in  lieu  of 
it  he  received  an  old  sheep-skin  cap,  which  had  belonged  to 
some  unfortunate  man,  who,  like  us,  had  been  a  prisoner,  and 
who  had  lately  died  of  grief  and  wretchedness. 

My  master,  having  been  installed  in  the  possession  of  the 
dead  man's  cap,  was  soon  appointed  to  fill  his  situation,  which 
was  that  of  tending  the  camels,  when  they  were  sent  to  feed 
upon  the  mountains,  and,  as  he  was  fat  and  unwieldy,  there 
was  no  apprehension  of  his  running  away.  As  for  me,  I  was 
not  permitted   to  leave   the   tents,  but  was,  for  the  present, 

(35) 


36  THE    ADVENTURES    OF    HAJJI    BABA. 

employed  in  shaking  the  leather  bags  which  contained  the  curds 
from  which  butter  was  made. 

In  order  to  celebrate  the  success  of  the  expedition,  an  enter- 
tainment was  given  by  the  chief  to  the  whole  encampment.  A 
large  caldron,  filled  with  rice,  was  boiled,  and  two  sheep  were 
roasted  whole.  The  men,  consisting  of  our  chief's  relations, 
who  came  from  the  surrounding  tents,  and  most  of  whom  had 
been  at  the  attack  of  our  caravan,  were  assembled  in  one  tent, 
whilst  the  women  were  collected  in  another.  After  the  rice 
and  the  sheep  had  been  served  up  to  the  men,  they  were  carried 
to  the  women,  and  when  they  had  done  the  shepherds'  boys 
were  served,  and,  after  they  had  devoured  their  utmost,  the 
bones  and  scrapings  of  dishes  were  given  to  us  and  the  dogs. 
But,  when  I  was  waiting  with  great  anxiety  for  our  morsel, 
having  scarcely  tasted  food  since  we  were  taken,  I  was  secretly 
beckoned  to  by  one  of  the  women,  who  made  me  screen  myself 
behind  a  tent,  and  setting  down  a  dish  of  rice,  with  a  bit  of  the 
sheep's  tail  in  it,  which  was  sent,  she  said,  by  the  chief's  wife, 
who  pitied  ray  misfortune,  and  bid  me  be  of  good  courage,  she 
hurried  away  without  waiting  for  my  acknowledgments. 

The  day  was  passed  by  the  men  in  smoking  and  relating 
their  adventures,  and  by  the  women  in  singing  and  beating  the 
tambourine,  whilst  my  poor  master  and  I  were  left  to  ponder 
over  our  forlorn  situation.  The  mark  of  favor  which  I  had 
just  received  had  set  my  imagination  to  work,  and  led  me  to 
consider  my  condition  as  not  entirely  desperate.  But  in  vain  I 
endeavored  to  cheer  up  the  spirits  of  my  companion  ;  he  did 
not  cease  to  bewail  his  hard  fate.  I  brought  to  his  mind  that 
constant  refuge  of  every  true  Mussulman  in  grief,  "Allah 
herim! — God  is  merciful!"  His  answer  was,  '■'■Allah  kerim, 
Allah  herim,  is  all  very  well  for  you  who  had  nothing  to  lose ; 
but  in  the  meantime  I  am  ruined  for  ever."  His  greatest  con- 
cern seemed  to  be,  the  having  failed  to  secure  the  profits  which 
he  had  expected  to  make  on  his  lamb  skins,  and  he  passed  all 
his  time  in  calculating,  to  the  utmost  farthing,  what  had  been 
his  losses  on  this  occasion.  However,  we  were  soon  to  be 
parted.  He  was  sent  off  the  next  day  to  the  mountains,  in 
charge  of  a  string  of  fifty  camels,  with  terrible  threats  from  the 
chief  that  his  nose  and  ears  should  pay  for  the  loss  of  any  one 
of  them,  and  that  if  one  died,  its  price  should  be  added  to  the 
ransom  money  which  he  hereafter  expected  to  receive  for  him. 
As  the  last  testimony  of  my  affection  for  him,  I  made  him  sit 
down  on  a  camel's  pack  saddle,  and,  with  some  water  from  a 
neighboring  spring,  and  a  piece  of  soap,  which,  together  with 
my  razors,  I  had  saved  from  the  wreck  of  our  fortunes,  I  shaved 


RESCUES    HIS   master's    MONEY.  37 

him  in  the  face  of  the  whole  camp.  I  very  soon  found  that 
this  exhibition  of  my  abilities  and  profession  might  be  produc- 
tive of  the  greatest  advantage  to  my  future  prospects.  Every 
fellow  who  had  a  head  to  scratch  immediately  found  out  that 
he  wanted  shaving,  and  my  reputation  soon  reached  the  ears 
of  the  chief,  who  called  me  to  him,  and  ordered  me  to  operate 
upon  him  without  loss  of  time.  I  soon  went  to  work  upon  a 
large  head  that  exhibited  the  mark  of  many  a  sword  cut,  and 
which  presented  as  rough  a  surface  as  that  of  the  sheep  dogs 
afore-mentioned.  He  who  had  been  accustomed  to  have  his 
hair  clipped,  perhaps,  with  the  same  instrument  that  sheared 
his  sheep,  and  who  knew  of  no  greater  luxury  than  that  of 
being  mutilated  by  some  country  barber,  felt  himself  in  paradise 
under  my  hand.  He  freely  expressed  his  satisfaction  and  his 
approbation  of  my  services,  swore  that  he  never  would  accept 
of  any  ransom  for  me,  be  it  what  it  might,  and  that  I  should, 
henceforth,  be  entitled  to  the  appointment  of  his  own  body 
barber.  I  leave  the  gentle  reader  to  guess  what  were  my  feel- 
ings upon  this  occasion.  Whilst  I  stooped  down  and  kissed 
the  knee  of  my  new  master,  with  every  appearance  of  gratitude 
and  respect,  I  determined  to  make  use  of  the  liberty  which  the 
confidence  reposed  in  me  might  afford,  by  running  away  on  the 
very  first  favorable  opportunity.  From  being  so  often  near 
the  person  of  the  chief,  I  soon  began  to  acquire  great  ascend- 
ancy over  him ;  and  although  I  was  still  watched  with  care,  yet 
I  could  already  devise  plans,  which  appeared  to  me  to  be  prac- 
ticable, for  escaping  from  this  hateful  servitude  into  which  I 
was  thrown,  and  I  felt  in  a  less  degree  than  another  would  have 
done  the  drudgery  and  wretchedness  of  my  situation. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

RESCUES    HIS    master's    MONEY    AND    DETERMINES    TO    KEEP    IT. 

One  of  the  first  objects  which  I  had  in  view  for  the  further- 
ance of  my  plan  of  escape  was  to  obtain  possession  of  the 
money  which  was  sewed  in  the  padding  of  ray  former  master's 
turban.  But  it  had  been  thrown  into  a  corner  of  the  women's 
tent,  to  which  I  had  no  access,  and  it  required  much  ingenuity 
to  get  at  it  without  creating  suspicion.  I  had  established  my 
reputation  as  a  barber  throughout  our  and  the  neighboring  en- 
4 


38  THE    ADVENTURES   OF    HAJJI    BABA. 

campments,  and  had  become  a  favorite  of  the  men  ;  but  although 
I  had  rea.son  to  believe  that  the  Banou  of  my  master  would  fain 
become  more  intimately  acquainted  with  me  than  she  hitherto 
had  been,  yet  as  neither  she  nor  any  of  the  other  women  could 
employ  me  in  my  profession  as  a  shaver,  our  intercouse  hitherto 
had  been  confined  to  tender  glances,  occasional  acts  of  kindness 
on  her  part,  and  of  corresponding  marks  of  thankfulness  and 
acknowledgment  on  mine.  But  as  they  knew  enough  of  civilized 
life  to  be  aware  that  in  Persia  barbers  were  also  surgeons — 
that  besides  shaving  and  rubbing  in  the  bath,  they  could  bleed, 
draw  teeth,  and  set  a  broken  limb  ;  the  Banou  soon  discovered 
that  she  wanted  to  be  bled,  and  sent  a  deputation  to  ask  me  if 
I  could  perform  that  service  for  her.  Looking  upon  this  as  a 
favorable  opportunity  to  learn  some  tidings  of  the  object  of  my 
solicitude,  or  perhaps  to  gain  possession  of  it,  I  immediately 
answered  that  provided  I  was  furnished  with  a  pen-knife,  I 
hoped  that  I  could  bleed  as  dexterously  as  the  best  of  my  pro- 
fession. The  instrument  was  produced,  and  one  of  the  elders 
of  the  tribe,  who  pretended  to  a  smattering  of  astrology,  an- 
nounced that  a  conjunction  of  the  planets  favorable  to  such  an 
operation  would  take  place  on  the  following  morning.  At  that 
auspicious  moment,  I  was  introduced  into  the  women's  tent, 
where  I  found  the  Banou  seated  on  a  carpet  on  the  ground, 
waiting  for  me  with  great  impatience.  She  was  not  a  person 
to  excite  sensations  of  a  tender  nature  in  a  novice  like  me ;  for, 
in  the  first  place,  she  was  of  an  unwieldy  size,  (so  different  from 
the  slim  forms  that  we  are  taught  to  prize  in  Persia,)  that  I 
looked  upon  her  with  disgust ;  and,  in  the  next,  I  lived  in  such 
terror  of  Asian  Sultan,  that  had  I  aspired  to  her  favor,  it  must 
have  been  in  the  constant  dread  of  the  loss  of  my  ears.  How- 
ever I  was  much  noticed  by  her,  and  received  great  attention 
from  her  companions,  who,  looking  upon  me  as  a  being  of  a 
superior  order,  all  wanted  to  have  their  pulses  felt.  Whilst 
making  my  preparations  for  bleeding  the  Banou,  I  cast  my  eyes 
about  the  tent,  in  the  hopes  of  seeing  the  prize,  which  I  was 
anxious  to  possess.  It  struck  me  that  I  might  make  the  very 
operation  in  which  I  was  engaged  subservient  to  my  views,  and 
demanding  to  feel  the  patient's  pulse  once  moi'e,  which  I  did 
with  a  look  of  intense  meditation,  I  observed  that  this  was  a 
complicated  disorder — that  the  blood  must  not  be  allowed  to 
flow  upon  the  ground,  but  be  collected  in  a  vessel,  that  I  might 
examine  it  at  leisure.  This  strange  proposal  of  mine  raised  an 
immediate  outcry  amongst  the  women ;  but  with  the  Banou  a 
deviation  from  the  usual  practice  only  served  to  confirm  her 
opinion  of  my  superior  skill.     Here,  however,  a  new  difficulty 


RESCUES   HIS   master's   MONEY.  80 

arose.  The  scanty  stock  of  a  Turcoman  could  ill  afford  to  sacri- 
fice any  utensil  by  applying  it  to  a  service  which  would  defile 
it  ever  after.  They  were  recapitulated  one  by  one,  and  all  found 
too  precious  to  be  thrown  away.  I  was  hesitating  whether  I 
might  venture  to  go  straight  to  my  mark,  when  the  Banou  be- 
thought herself  of  an  old  leather  drinking-cup,  which  she  de- 
sired one  of  the  women  to  search  for  in  a  corner  of  the  tent. 
"This  will  never  do  :  you  can  see  the  light  through  it,"  said  I, 
holding  it  up  towards  the  tent  door,  and  pointing  to  the  seams 
with  the  penknife,  which  I  held  in  my  hand,  and  with  which  I 
cut,  at  the  same  time,  half  a  dozen  of  the  stitches.  "Where  is 
the  cap  of  that  old  Emir  ?"  cried  out  the  Banou.  "  It  is  mine," 
said  the  second  wife;  "I  want  it  to  stuif  my  saddle  with," 
"Yours!"  returned  the  other  in  a  fury.  "There  is  but  one 
God  !  Am  not  I  the  Banou  of  this  harem  ?  I  will  have  it." 
•  'You  shall  not,"  retorted  the  other.  Upon  this  an  uproar 
ensued  which  became  so  loud  and  threatening,  that  I  feared  it 
would  come  to  the  ears  of  Asian  Sultan,  who  very  probably 
would  have  settled  the  dispute  by  taking  at  once  the  bone 
of  contention  from  the  contending  parties.  But  luckily  the 
astrologer  interfered,  who,  when  he  had  assured  the  second  wife 
that  the  blood  of  the  Banou  would  be  upon  her  head,  if  any- 
thing unfortunate  happened  on  this  occasion,  she  consented  to 
give  up  her  pretensions.  I  accordingly  prepared  to  bleed  my 
patient ;  but  when  she  saw  the  penknife  flourished  in  the  air, 
the  cap  underneath  to  receive  her  blood,  and  the  anxious  faces 
of  those  about  her,  she  became  frightened,  and  refused  to  permit 
me  to  proceed.  Fearing  after  all  that  I  should  lose  my  prize, 
I  put  on  a  very  sagacious  look,  felt  her  pulse,  and  told  her  that 
her  refusal  was  unavailing,  for  that  it  was  her  fate  to  be  bled, 
and  that  she  and  every  one  knew  nothing  could  avert  an  event 
which  had  been  decreed  since  the  beginning  of  the  world.  To 
this  there  was  no  reply ;  and  all  agreeing  that  she  would  com- 
mit a  great  sin  were  she  to  oppose  herself  to  the  decrees  of 
Providence,  she  put  out  her  bare  arm,  and  received  the  stab 
from  my  penknife  with  apparent  fortitude.  The  blood  was 
caught,  and,  when  the  operation  was  over,  I  ordered  that  it 
should  be  conveyed  to  a  little  distance  from  the  camp,  and  that 
none  but  myself  should  be  permitted  to  approach  it,  as  much 
of  the  good  or  evil  that  might  accrue  to  the  patient  from  bleed- 
ing depended  u})on  what  happened  to  the  blood  after  it  had 
flown  from  the  body.  I  waited  until  night,  when  everybody 
was  asleep,  and  then  with  great  anxiety  ripped  up  the  lining, 
where  to  my  joy  I  found  the  fifty  ducats,  which  I  immediately 
concealed  in  an  adjacent  spot,  and  then  dug  a  hole  for  the  cap, 


40  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA, 

which  I  also  concealed.  In  the  morning  I  informed  the  Banon, 
that  having  seen  some  wolves  prowling  about  the  tents,  I  feared 
that  something  unlucky  might  happen  to  her  blood,  and  that  I 
had  buried  it,  caouk  and  all.  This  appeared  to  satisfy  her ; 
and  by  way  of  recompense  for  the  service  I  had  rendered,  she 
sent  me  a  dish  made  with  her  own  hands,  consisting  of  a  lamb 
roasted  whole,  stuffed  with  rice  and  plumbs,  accompanied  by  a 
bowl  of  sour  milk  with  salt  in  it. 

I  must  confess  that  when  I  became  possessed  of  the  fifty 
ducats,  a  recollection  of  my  poor  former  master,  who  was  lead- 
ing a  melancholy  life  in  the  mountains  with  the  camels,  whilst 
I  was  in  comparative  luxury,  came  across  my  mind,  and  I  half 
resolved  to  restore  them  to  him  ;  but  little  by  little  I  began  to 
argue  differently  with  myself.  "  Had  it  not  been  for  my  inge- 
Buity,"  said  I,  "the  money  was  lost  for  ever;  therefore  who 
has  a  better  claim  to  it  than  myself  ?  If  he  was  to  get  posses- 
sion of  it  again,  it  could  be  of  no  use  to  him  in  his  new  pro- 
fession, and  it  is  an  hundred  to  one  but  what  it  would  be  taken 
from  him,  therefore  I  had  best  keep  it  for  the  present ;  besides, 
it  was  his  fate  to  lose,  and  mine  to  recover  it ;"  so  that  settled 
every  difficulty,  and  therefore  I  looked  upon  myself  as  the  legi- 
timate possessor  of  fifty  ducats,  which  I  conceived  no  law 
could  take  from  me.  In  the  meanwhile  I  made  an  attempt  to 
convey  to  him  half  of  the  roasted  lamb  which  I  had  just 
received,  through  the  means  of  a  shepherd's  boy  who  was  going 
into  the  mountains,  and  who  promised  not  to  eat  any  of  it  by 
the  wayside.  Although  I  doubted  his  word,  yet,  after  my 
deliberations  about  the  ducats,  my  conscience  wanted  some 
quietus:  "I  cannot  do  less,"  said  I,  "than  make  my  fellow 
sufferer  in  adversity  a  partaker  of  my  prosperity."  But  alas  ! 
the  boy  had  scarcely  crossed  the  deep  ravine  that  bordered  the 
encampment  ere  I  could  perceive  him  carrying  the  meat  to  his 
mouth,  and  I  made  no  doubt  that  every  bone  was  picked  clean 
before  he  was  out  of  my  sight.  It  would  have  been  a  useless 
undertaking  to  have  pursued  him,  considering  the  distance  that 
already  separated  us,  so  I  contented  myself  by  discharging  a 
stone  and  a  malediction  at  his  head,  neither  of  which  reached 
their  destination. 


CHAPTER    V. 

HAJJI   BABA   INVADES    HIS   NATIVE    CITY, 

I  HAD  now  been  above  a  year  in  the  hands  of  the  Turcomans, 
during  which  I  had  acquired  the  entire  confidence  of  my  master. 
He  consulted  me  upon  all  his  own  affairs,  as  well  as  those  of 
his  community,  and  as  he  considered  that  I  might  now  be 
depended  upon,  he  at  length  determined  to  permit  me  to  ac- 
company him  in  a  predatory  excursion  into  Persia, — a  permis- 
sion, which,  in  hope  of  a  good  opportunity  to  escape,  I  had 
frequently  entreated  of  him  to  grant.  Hitherto  I  had  never 
been  allowed  to  stray  beyond  the  encampment  and  its  surround- 
ing pastures,  and  as  I  was  totally  ignorant  of  the  roads  through 
the  great  salt  desert  which  separated  us  from  Persia,  I  knew 
that  it  would  be  in  vain  for  me  to  attempt  flight,  as  many  be- 
fore me  had  done,  and  who  invariably  had  either  perished  or 
returned  to  their  masters,  who  treated  them  with  more  rigor 
than  before.  I  therefore  rejoiced  that  I  now  had  an  opportu- 
nity of  observing  the  country  we  were  about  to  cross,  and  de- 
termined with  myself  that  if  I  could  not  get  away  during  this 
expedition,  nothing  should  hinder  my  attempting  it  on  our 
return.  The  Turcomans  generally  make  their  principal  excur- 
sions in  the  spring,  when  they  find  pasturage  for  their  horses  in 
the  high  lands,  and  new  corn  in  the  plains,  and  because  then 
they  are  almost  certain  of  meeting  caravans  on  their  march, 
which  they  plunder.  This  season  being  now  near  at  hand, 
Asian  called  together  the  chiefs  of  his  tribe,  the  heads  of  tens 
and  the  heads  of  hundreds,  and  all  those  who  were  skilled  in 
plunder,  and  proposed  a  plan  to  them  of  an  incursion  into  the 
very  heart  of  Persia.  Their  object  was  to  reach  Ispahan  itself, 
to  enter  the  city  in  the  night,  when  all  was  quiet,  and  to  sack 
the  caravanserai,  to  which  the  richest  merchants  were  known  to 
resort.  Our  guide  through  the  great  salt  desert  was  to  be  my 
master  in  person,  whose  experience  and  local  knowledge  was 
greater  than  that  of  any  of  his  contemporaries ;  and  he  pro- 
posed to  the  council  that  as  no  one  amongst  them  knew  the 
streets  and  bazaars  of  Ispahan,  I  should  lead  the  way,  when 
once  we  had  entered  the  city.  This  was  opposed  by  several, 
who  said  that  it  was  im})rudent  to  trust  a  stranger,  a  native  of 
the  very  place  they  intended  to  attack,  who  would  be  likely  to 
4*  (41) 


42  THE  ADVF.XTURES  OP  HAJJI  BABA. 

run  off  the  moment  he  could  do  so  with  safety.  At  length,  after 
much  discussion,  it  was  agreed  that  I  should  be  their  guide  in 
Ispahan ;  that  two  men  should  ride  close  on  each  side  of  me, 
and  in  case  I  showed  the  least  symptom  of  treachery  in  my 
movements,  should  kill  me  on  the  spot.  This  being  settled, 
the  Turcomans  put  their  horses  in  training,  and  one  was  ap- 
pointed for  my  use,  which  had  the  reputation  of  having  borne 
away  the  flag  twice  at  their  races.  I  was  equipped  as  a  Tur- 
coman, with  a  large  sheepskin  cap  on  my  head,  a  sheepskin 
coat,  a  sword,  a  bow  and  arrows,  and  a  heavy  wooden  spear, 
the  head  of  which  was  taken  off  or  put  on  as  the  occasion 
might  require.  I  had  a  bag  of  corn  tied  behind  my  horse,  be- 
sides ropes  to  tether  him  with  when  we  made  a  halt, — and  for 
my  own  food,  I  carried  several  flaps  of  bread,  and  half  a  dozen 
of  hard  eggs,  trusting  to  the  chapter  of  accidents,  and  to  my 
own  endurance  of  hunger,  for  further  sustenance.  I  had  already 
made  a  very  tolerable  apprenticeship  to  a  hard  life  since  I  had 
first  been  taken,  by  sleeping  on  the  ground,  with  the  first  thing 
that  I  could  seize  for  a  pillow,  and  thus  I  looked  upon  the  want 
of  a  bed  as  no  privation.  My  companions  were  equally  hardy, 
and  in  point  of  bodily  fatigue,  perhaps  we  were  a  match  for 
any  nation  in  the  world. 

I  took  previous  care  to  unbury  the  fifty  ducats,  which  I  tied 
very  carefully  in  my  girdle,  and  I  promised  my  former  master, 
who  from  fretting  had  worn  himself  down  to  a  skeleton,  that 
if  ever  I  had  an  opportunity,  I  would  do  all  in  my  power  to 
make  his  friends  ransom  him.  "Ah,"  said  he,  "no  one  will 
ever  ransom  me.  As  for  my  son,  he  will  be  happy  to  get  my 
property ;  and  as  for  my  wife  she  will  be  happy  to  get  another 
husband : — so  no  hope  is  left.  There  is  only  one  favor  I  beg 
of  you,  which  is,  to  inquire  what  is  the  price  of  lambskins  at 
Constantinople." 

And  here  I  had  another  struggle  with  my  conscience  on  the 
subject  of  the  ducats.  Should  I  restore  them  ?  "Would  it  not 
be  more  advantageous,  even  to  my  master,  that  I  should  keep 
them  ?  My  ability  to  take  advantage  of  this  opportunity  to 
escape  might  depend  upon  my  having  a  little  money  in  my 
purse — and  what  chance  had  he  of  being  relieved  but  through 
my  interference  ?  All  things  considered,  I  let  them  remain  in 
my  girdle. 

The  astrologer  having  fixed  upon  a  lucky  hour  for  our  de- 
parture, we  mounted  at  nightfall.  Our  party  consisted  of 
Asian  Sultan,  who  was  appointed  chief  of  the  expedition,  and 
of  twenty  men,  myself  included.  Our  companions  were  com- 
posed of  the  principal  men  of  the  different  encampments  in  our 


HAJJI    BABA    INVADES    HIS    NATIVE    CITY.  43 

neighborhood,  and  were  all,  more  or  less,  accomplished  cavaliers. 
They  were  mounted  upon  excellent  horses,  the  speed  and  bot- 
tom of  which  are  so  justly  celebrated  throughout  Asia ;  and  as 
we  rode  along  in  the  moonlight,  completely  armed,  I  was  per- 
suaded that  we  looked  as  desperate  a  gang  of  ruffians  as  ever 
took  the  field.  For  my  part,  I  felt  that  nature  had  never  in- 
tended me  for  a  warrior,  and  although  I  thought  that  I  could 
keep  up  appearances  as  well  as  most  men  in  my  predicament, 
and  indeed  I  believe  did  act  my  part  so  perfectly,  as  to  make 
both  my  master  and  his  companions  believe  that  they  had  got 
a  very  Rustam  in  me,  yet  I  dreaded  the  time  when  I  should  be 
put  to  the  trial. 

I  was  surprised  to  observe  the  dexterity  with  which  our  chief 
led  us  through  the  thick  forests,  that  clothe  the  mountains 
bordering  on  the  plains  of  Kipchak.  The  dangers  of  the  pre- 
cipices and  the  steep  ascents  were  something  quite  api)allii)g  to 
a  young  traveler  like  me ;  but  my  companions  rode  over  every 
thing  with  the  greatest  unconcern,  confident  in  the  sure  footed- 
ness  of  their  horses.  Having  once  ascended  the  mountains,  we 
entered  upon  the  arid  plains  of  Persia,  and  there  my  master's 
knowledge  of  the  country  was  again  conspicuous.  He  knew 
every  summit  the  moment  it  appeared,  with  the  same  certainty 
as  an  experienced  Frank  sailor  recognizes  a  distant  headland 
at  sea.  But  he  showed  his  sagacity  most  in  drawing  his  in- 
ferences from  the  tracks  and  footsteps  of  animals.  He  could 
tell  what  sort  of  travelers  they  belonged  to,  whence  coming, 
whither  going,  whether  enemy  or  foe,  whether  laden  or  unladen, 
and  what  their  probable  numbers,  with  the  greatest  precision. 

We  traveled  with  much  precaution  as  long  as  we  were  in  the 
inhabited  parts  of  the  country,  lying  by  during  the  day,  and 
making  all  expedition  at  night.  Our  stock  of  provender  and 
provisions  was  renewed  at  the  last  encampment  of  the  wander- 
ing tribes  which  we  visited  before  we  reached  the  great  salt 
desert,  and  when  we  entered  it,  we  urged  our  horses  on  with 
as  much  haste  as  we  knew  their  strength  was  likely  to  support. 
At  length,  after  traveling  about  one  hundred  and  twenty  para- 
sangs,  we  found  ourselves  in  the  environs  of  Ispahan.  The 
moment  for  reaping  the  fruit  of  our  fatigue,  and  for  trying 
my  courage,  was  now  at  hand,  and  my  heart  quite  misgave 
me  when  I  heard  of  the  plan  of  attack  which  my  companions 
proposed. 

Their  scheme  was  to  enter  the  city  through  one  of  the  un- 
guarded avenues,  which  were  well  known  to  me,  and  at  mid- 
night to  make  straight  for  the  lloyal  Caravanserai,  where  we 
were  sure  to  find  a  great  many  merchants,  who  at  this  season 


44  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA, 

of  the  year  collect  there  with  ready  money  to  make  their  pur- 
chases. We  were  at  once  to  carry  oif  all  the  cash  we  could 
fiud,  then  to  gag  and  seize  each  a  merchant  if  we  were  able, 
and,  before  the  city  could  be  alarmed,  we  might  be  on  the  road 
to  our  encampment  again.  I  found  the  plan  so  hazardous,  and 
so  little  likely  to  succeed,  that  I  gave  it  as  my  opinion  that  -we 
ought  not  to  attempt  it ;  but  my  master,  putting  on  his  most 
determined  look,  said  to  me,  "  Hajji !  open  your  eyes, — this  is 
no  child's  play  ! — I  swear  by  the  beard  of  the  Prophet,  that  if 
you  do  not  behave  well,  I'll  burn  your  father.  We  have  suc- 
ceeded before,  and  why  should  we  not  be  as  successful  now  ?" 
He  then  ordered  me  to  ride  near  him,  and  placed  another 
ruffian  at  my  side,  and  both  vowed,  if  I  flinched,  that  they 
would  immediately  run  me  through  the  body.  We  then  took 
the  lead,  and  from  my  knowledge  of  Ispahan,  I  easily  picked 
ray  way  through  the  ruins  which  surround  it,  and  then  entered 
into  the  inhabited  streets,  which  were  at  that  time  of  night  en- 
tirely forsaken.  When  near  the  scene  of  action,  we  stopped 
under  the  arches  of  a  ruined  house,  which  are  so  frequently  to 
be  met  with  even  in  the  most  inhabited  parts  of  the  city,  and 
dismounting  from  our  horses,  picquetted  them  to  the  ground 
with  pegs  and  heel  ropes,  and  left  them  under  the  care  of  two 
of  our  men.  By  way  of  precaution,  we  appointed  a  rendezvous 
in  a  lonely  dell  about  five  parasangs  from  Ispahan,  to  which  it 
was  determined  we  should  retreat  as  circumstances  might  re- 
quire. Once  on  foot,  we  proceeded  without  noise  in  a  body, 
avoiding  as  much  as  we  could  the  bazaars,  where  I  knew  that 
the  officers  of  the  police  kept  watch,  and  by  lanes  reached  the 
gate  of  the  caravanserai.  Here  was  a  place,  every  square  inch 
of  which  I  knew  by  heart,  namely,  my  father's  shaving-shop, 
Being  aware  that  the  gate  of  the  caravanserai  would  be  locked, 
I  made  the  party  halt,  and,  taking  up  a  stone,  knocked,  and 
calling  out  to  the  door-keeper  by  name,  "Ali  Mohammed," 
said  I,  "open,  open  :  the  caravan  is  arrived." 

Between  asleep  and  awake,  without  showing  the  least  symp- 
tom of  opening,  "  What  caravan  ?"  said  he. 

"  The  caravan  from  Bagdad." 

"  From  Bagdad  ?  why  that  arrived  yesterday.  Do  you 
laugh  at  my  beard  ?" 

Seeing  myself  entrapped,  I  was  obliged  to  have  recourse  to 
my  own  name,  and  said,  "  Why  a  caravan  to  be  sure  with  Hajji 
Baba,  Kerbelai  Hassan  the  barber's  son,  who  went  away  with 
Osman  Aga,  the  Bagdad  merchant.  I  bring  the  news,  and 
expect  the  present." 

"What,  Hajji ?"  said  the  porter,  "he  who  used  to  shave  my 


HAJJI    BABA    INVADES   HIS   NATIVE   CITY.  45 

head  so  well?  His  place  lias  long  been  empty.  Tou  are 
welcome." 

Upon  which  he  began  to  unbolt  the  heavy  gates  of  the  en- 
trance porch,  which,  as  they  creaked  on  their  hinges,  dis- 
covered a  little  old  man  in  his  drawers  with  an  iron  lamp  in  his 
hand,  which  shed  enough  light  to  show  us  that  the  place  was 
full  of  merchants  and  their  effects. 

One  of  our  party  immediately  seized  upon  him,  and  then  we 
all  rushed  in  and  fell  to  work.  Expert  in  these  sort  of  attacks, 
my  companions  knew  exactly  where  to  go  for  plunder,  and  they 
soon  took  possession  of  all  the  gold  and  silver  that  was  to  be 
found ;  but  their  first  object  was  to  secure  some  two  or  three 
of  the  richest  merchants,  whose  ransom  might  be  a  further 
source  of  wealth  to  them.  Ere  the  alarm  had  been  spread, 
they  had  seized  upon  three,  who  sleeping  upon  fine  beds, 
covered  with  shawl  quilts,  and  reposing  upon  embroidered 
cushions,  they  expected  would  prove  a  good  prize.  These 
they  bound  hand  and  foot  after  their  fashion,  and  forcing  them 
away,  placed  them  upon  the  best  horses  behind  their  riders, 
who  immediately  retreated  from  the  scene  of  action  to  the 
rendezvous. 

From  my  knowledge  of  the  caravanserai  itself  and  of  the 
rooms  which  the  richest  merchants  generally  occupied,  I  knew 
where  money  was  to  be  found,  and  I  entered  one  room  as  softly 
as  I  could,  (the  very  room  which  my  first  master  had  occupied,) 
and  seizing  upon  the  small  box  in  which  the  merchants  gene- 
rally keep  theirs,  I  made  off  with  it.  To  my  joy,  I  found  it 
contained  a  heavy  bag,  which  I  thrust  into  my  bosom,  and 
carried  it  about  with  me  as  well  as  I  could;  although,  on 
account  of  the  darkness,  I  could  not  ascertain  of  what  metal 
it  was. 

By  the  time  we  had  nearly  finished  our  operations  the  city 
had  been  alarmed.  Almost  all  the  people  within  the  caravan- 
serai, such  as  servants,  grooms,  mule-drivers,  at  the  first  alarm, 
had  retreated  to  the  roof;  the  neighboring  inhabitants  then 
came  in  flocks,  not  knowing  exactly  what  to  do  :  then  came  the 
police  magistrate  and  his  officers,  who  also  got  on  the  roof  of 
the  caravanserai,  but  who  only  increased  the  uproar  by  their 
cries,  exclaiming  "  Strike,  seize,  kill  1"  but  without  in  fact  doing 
anything  effectual  to  repulse  the  enemy.  Some  few  shots  were 
fired  at  random  ;  but  owing  to  the  darkness  and  the  general  con- 
fusion, we  managed  to  steal  away  without  any  serious  accident ; 
but  I  must  own  that  during  the  fray,  I  was  frequently  tempted 
to  leave  the  desperate  gang  to  which  I  belonged,  and  to  hide 
myself  in  some  corner  until  they  were  gone ;  but  I  argued  thus 


;ii^  THE   ADVENTURES   OF   HAJJI   BAB  A. 

with  myself:  If  I  should  succeed  to  get  away,  still  my  dresS 
would  discover  me,  and  before  I  could  explain  who  I  really 
was,  I  should  certainly  fall  a  sacrifice  to  the  fury  of  the  popu- 
lace, the  effects  of  which  more  than  once  I  had  had  occasion  to 
witness.  My  father's  shop  was  before  me ;  the  happy  days  I 
had  passed  in  that  very  caravanserai  were  in  my  recollection, 
and  I  was  in  the  act  of  deliberating  within  myself  what  I  should 
do,  when  I  felt  myself  roughly  seized  by  the  arm,  and  the  first 
thing  which  I  recognized  on  turning  round  was  the  grim  face 
of  Asian  Sultan,  who  threatened  to  kill  me  on  the  spot,  if  I  did 
not  render  myself  worthy  of  the  confidence  he  had  placed  in  me. 
In  order  to  show  him  my  prowess,  I  fastened  upon  a  Persian 
who  had  just  rushed  by  us,  and  throwing  him  down,  I  ex- 
claimed that  if  he  did  not  quietly  submit  to  be  taken  prisoner 
and  to  follow  me,  I  would  put  him  to  death.  He  began  to 
make  the  usual  lamentations,  "For  the  sake  of  Imam  Hossein, 
by  the  soul  of  your  father,  by  the  beard  of  Omar,  I  conjure  you 
to  leave  me  I"  and  immediately  I  recognized  a  voice  that  could 
belong  to  no  one  but  my  own  father.  By  a  gleam  from  a  lan- 
tern, I  discovered  his  well  known  face.  It  was  evident  that 
hearing  the  commotion,  he  had  left  his  bed  to  secure  the  pro- 
perty in  his  shop,  which  altogether  did  not  consist  of  more 
than  half  a  dozen  of  towels,  a  case  of  razors,  soap,  and  a  carpet. 
The  moment  I  recognized  him,  I  let  go  his  beard,  of  which  I  had 
got  a  fast  hold,  and  owing  to  that  habit  of  respect  which  all 
Persians  show  to  their  parents,  would  have  kissed  his  hand  and 
stood  before  him ;  but  my  life  was  in  danger  if  I  appeared  to 
flinch,  so  I  continued  to  struggle  with  him,  and  in  order  to 
show  myself  in  earnest,  pretending  to  beat  him,  I  administered 
blows  to  a  mule's  pack-saddle  that  was  close  to  where  he  lay. 
I  heard  my  father  muttering  to  himself,  "  Ah,  if  Hajji  was  here, 
he  would  not  permit  me  to  be  served  in  this  way!"  which  had 
such  a  strong  eflTect  upon  me,  that  I  immediately  let  go,  and 
exclaimed  in  Turkish  to  the  surrounding  Turcomans :  "  He 
wont  do  for  us;  it's  only  a  barber."  So  without  more  cere- 
mony I  quitted  the  scene  of  action,  mounted  my  horse,  and 
retreated  in  full  gallop  through  the  city. 


CHAPTER  yi. 

THE   THREE    PRISONERS    AND    THE    BOOTY. 

When  we  had  reached  our  place  of  rendezvous,  we  dis- 
mounted from  our  horses,  and  made  a  halt  to  rest  them,  and  to 
recruit  ourselves  after  the  fatigues  of  the  night.  One  of  the 
party  had  not  forgotten  to  steal  a  Iamb  as  we  rode  along,  which 
was  soon  put  into  a  fit  state  to  be  roasted.  It  was  cut  up  into 
small  pieces,  which  were  stuck  on  a  ramrod,  and  placed  over  a 
slow  fire  made  of  what  underwood  we  could  find,  mixed  up  with 
the  dung  of  animals,  and  thus  heated,  was  devoured  most  rave- 
nously by  us  all. 

Our  next  care  was  to  ascertain  the  value  of  our  prisoners. 
One  was  a  tall,  thin  man,  about  fifty  years  of  age,  with  a  sharp 
eye,  hollow  aguish  cheek,  a  scanty  beard,  wearing  a  pair  of 
silken  drawers,  and  a  shawl  under-coat.  The  other  was  a 
short,  round  man,  of  a  middle  age,  with  a  florid  face,  dressed  in 
a  dark  vest  buttoning  over  his  breast,  and  looked  like  an  officer 
of  the  law.  The  third  was  stout  and  hairy,  of  rough  aspect,  of 
a  strong,  vigorous  form,  and  who  was  bound  with  more  care 
than  the  others,  on  account  of  the  superior  resistance  which  he 
had  made. 

After  we  had  finished  our  meal,  and  distributed  the  remains 
of  it  to  the  prisoners,  we  called  them  before  us,  and  questioned 
them  as  to  their  professions  and  situations  in  life.  The  tall, 
thin  man,  upon  whose  rich  appearance  the  Turcomans  founded 
their  chief  hope,  was  first  examined,  and  as  I  was  the  only  one 
of  our  party  who  could  talk  Persian,  I  stood  interpreter. 
"Who  and  what  are  you?"  said  Asian  Sultan,  "I,"  said  the 
prisoner,  in  a  very  subdued  voice,  "  I  beg  to  state,  for  the  good 
of  your  service,  that  I  am  nothing — I  am  a  poor  man  ?" 

"  What's  your  business  ?" 

"  I  am  a  poet,  at  your  service  :  what  can  I  do  more  ?" 

"A  poet!"  cried  one  of  the  roughest  of  the  Turcomans; 
"  what  is  that  good  for  ?" 

"Nothing,"  answered  Asian  Sultan,  in  a  rage;  "he  wont 
fetch  ten  tomauns  :*  poets  are  always  poor,  and  live  upon  what 
they  can  cozen  from  others.    AVho  will  ransom  a  poet  ?    But  if 

*  A  tomaun  is  the  principal  gold  coin  of  Persia,  worth  about  14s. 

(4Y) 


48  THE  ADVENTURES  OP  HAJJI  BABA. 

you  are  so  poor,"  said  Asian  Sultan,  "  how  do  you  come  by 
those  rich  clothes  ?" 

"  They  are  part  of  a  dress  of  honour,"  returned  the  poet, 
"  which  was  lately  conferred  upon  me  by  the  Prince  of  Shiraz, 
for  having  written  some  verses  in  his  praise." 

Upon  which  the  clothes  were  taken  from  him,  and  a  sheep- 
skin cloak  given  to  him  in  return,  and  he  was  dismissed  for  the 
present.  Then  came  the  short  man.  "  Who  are  you  ?"  said  the 
chief;  "  what  is  your  profession  ?" 

"  I  am  a  poor  Cadi,"  answered  the  other. 

"  How  came  you  to  sleep  in  a  fine  bed,  if  you  are  poor  ?" 
said  his  interrogator.  "  You  father  of  a  dog,  if  you  lie,  we'll 
take  your  head  off  1  Confess  that  you  are  rich  !  All  Cadies 
are  rich  :  they  live  by  selling  themselves  to  the  highest  bid- 
der." 

"  I  am  the  Cadi  of  Galadoun,  at  your  service,"  said  the  pri- 
soner. "  I  was  ordered  to  Ispahan  by  the  governor,  to  settle 
for  the  rent  of  a  village  which  I  occupy." 

"  Where  is  the  money  for  the  rent  ?"  said  Asian. 

"  I  came  to  say,"  answered  the  Cadi,  that  I  had  no  money  to 
give,  for  that  the  locusts  had  destroyed  all  my  last  year's  crops, 
and  that  there  had  been  a  want  of  water." 

"  Then,  after  all,  what  is  this  fellow  worth  ?"  said  one  of  the 
gang. 

"  He  is  worth  a  good  price,"  replied  the  chief,  "if  he  hap- 
pens to  be  a  good  Cadi,  for  then  the  peasants  may  wish  him 
back  again  ;  but  if  not,  a  dinar  is  too  much  for  him.  We  must 
keep  him :  perhaps  he  is  of  more  value  than  a  merchant  would 
be.  But  let  us  see  how  much  this  other  fellow  is  likely  to 
fetch." 

They  then  brought  the  rough  man  before  them,  and  Asian 
Sultan  questioned  him  in  the  usual  manner — "  What  are  you  ?" 

"  I  am  a/e?-fls/i,"  (a  carpet  spreader,)  said  he,  in  a  very  sulky 
manner. 

"  Aferash!^^  cried  out  the  whole  gang — "a  ferash  I  The 
fellow  lies  !  How  carne  you  to  sleep  in  a  fine  bed  ?"  said 
one. 

"  It  was  not  mine,"  he  answered,  "  it  was  my  master's." 

"  He  lies  !  he  lies  I"  they  all  cried  out :  "  he  is  a  merchant 
— you  are  a  merchant.     Own  it,  or  we'll  put  you  to  death." 

In  vain  he  asserted  that  he  was  only  a  carpet  spreader,  no- 
body believed  him,  and  he  received  so  many  blows  from  dif- 
ferent quarters,  that  at  last  he  was  obliged  to  roar  out  that  he 
was  a  merchant. 

But  I,  who  judged  from  the  appearance  of  the  man  that  he 


THE   THREE    PRISONERS    AND    THE    BOOTY.  49 

could  not  be  a  merchant,  but  that  he  was  what  he  owned  him- 
self to  be,  assured  my  companions  that  they  had  got  but  a  sorry 
prize  in  him,  and  advised  them  to  release  him ;  but  immediately 
I  was  assailed  in  my  turn  with  a  thousand  maledictions,  and 
was  told,  that  if  I  chose  to  take  part  with  my  countrymen,  I 
should  share  their  fate,  and  become  a  slave  again — so  I  was 
obliged  to  keep  my  peace,  and  permit  the  ruffians  to  have  their 
own  way. 

Their  speculation  in  man-stealing  having  proved  so  unfortu- 
nate, they  were  in  no  very  good  humour  with  their  excursion, 
and  there  was  a  great  difference  of  opinion  amongst  them,  what 
should  be  done  with  such  worthless  prisoners.  Some  were  for 
keeping  the  Cadi,  and  killing  the  poet  and  the  ferash,  and  others 
for  preserving  the  Cadi  for  ransom,  and  making  the  ferash  a 
slave  ;  but  all  seemed  to  be  for  killing  the  poet. 

I  could  not  help  feeling  much  compassion  for  this  man,  who 
in  fact  appeared  to  be  from  his  manners,  and  general  deport- 
ment, a  man  of  consequence,  although  he  had  pleaded  poverty ; 
and  seeing  it  likely  to  go  hard  with  him,  I  said,  "What  folly 
are  you  about  to  commit !  Kill  the  poet  1  why  it  will  be  worse 
than  killing  the  goose  with  the  golden  egg.  Don't  you  know 
that  poets  are  very  rich  sometimes,  and  can,  if  they  choose,  be- 
come rich  at  all  times,  for  they  carry  their  wealth  in  their  head  ? 
Did  you  never  hear  of  the  king  who  gave  a  famous  poet  a  mis- 
call of  gold  for  every  stanza  he  composed  I  Is  not  the  same 
thing  said  of  the  present  Shah  ? — and — who  knows  ? — perhaps 
your  prisoner  may  be  the  king's  poet  laureate  himself." 

"  Is  that  the  case  ?"  said  one  of  the  gang ;  "  then  let  hitn 
make  stanzas  for  us  immediately,  and  if  they  don't  fetch  a  mis- 
cal  each,  he  shall  die." 

"  Make  on  !  make  on  1"  exclaimed  the  whole  of  them  to  the 
poet,  elated  by  so  bright  a  prospect  of  gain  ;  "  if  you  don't, 
we'll  cut  your  tongue  out." 

At  length  it  was  decided  that  all  three  should  be  preserved, 
and  that  as  soon  as  they  had  made  a  division  of  the  booty,  we 
should  return  to  the  plains  of  Kipchak. 

Asian  then  called  us  together,  and  every  man  was  obliged  to 
produce  what  he  had  stolen.  Some  brought  bags  of  silver, 
others  gold,  and  one  man,  who  thought  that  he  had  got  a  prize, 
gave  in  a  heavy  sack  of  copper  money,  which,  in  the  dark,  he 
had  taken  for  silver,  and  for  which  he  was  well  laughed  at.  Nor 
did  they  confine  themselves  to  money  only;  gold  heads  of  pipes, 
a  silver  ewer,  a  sable  pelisse,  shawls,  and  a  variety  of  other 

^-  Tweiitv-four  grraiaa  make  oue  miscal. 


50  THE    ADVENTURES    OF    HAJJI    BABA. 

things,  were  brought  before  us.  When  it  came  to  my  turn,  I 
produced  the  heaviest  bag  of  tomauns  that  had  yet  been  given 
in,  wliich  secured  to  me  the  applause  of  the  whole  company. 

"Well  done  1  well  done  1  Hajji,"  said  they  all  to  me;  "he 
has  beconie  a  good  Turcoman  :  we  could  not  have  done  better 
ourselves." 

My  master  in  particular  was  very  loud  in  his  praises,  and 
said,  "  Hajji,  ray  son,  by  my  own  soul,  by  the  head  of  my  father, 
I  swear  you  have  done  bravely,  and  I  will  give  you  one  of  my 
slaves  for  a  wife,  and  you  shall  live  with  us — and  you  shall 
have  a  tent  of  your  own,  with  twenty  sheep,  and  we'll  have  a 
wedding,  when  I  will  give  an  entertainment  to  all  the  encamp- 
ment." 

These  words  sunk  deep  into  my  mind,  and  only  strengthened 
my  resolution  to  escape  on  the  very  first  opportunity  ;  but  in 
the  meanwhile  I  was  very  intent  upon  the  division  of  the  spoil 
which  was  about  to  be  made,  as  I  hoped  to  be  included  for  a 
considerable  poi'tion  of  it.  To  my  great  mortification  they 
gave  me  not  a  single  dinar.  In  vain  I  exclaimed,  in  vain  I  en- 
treated ;  all  I  could  hear  was,  "  If  you  say  a  word  more  we  will 
cut  your  head  off."  So  I  Avas  obliged  to  console  myself  with 
my  original  fifty  ducats,  whilst  my  companions  were  squabbling 
about  their  shares.  At  length  it  became  a  scene  of  general 
contention,  and  would  have  finished  by  bloodshed,  if  a  thought 
had  not  struck  one  of  the  combatants,  who  exclaimed,  "  We 
have  got  a  Cadi  here  ;  why  should  we  dispute  ?  He  shall  de- 
cide between  us." 

So  immediately  the  poor  Cadi  was  set  in  the  midst  of  them, 
and  was  made  to  legislate  upon  goods,  part  of  which  belonged 
in  fact  to  himself,  without  even  getting  the  per  centage  due  to 
him  as  judge. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

A    FEELING    DISPOSITION HISTORY  OF    THE   POET    ASKER. 

We  made  our  retreat  by  the  same  road  we  came,  but  not 
with  the  same  expedition,  on  account  of  our  prisoners.  They 
sometimes  walked  and  sometimes  rode. 

The  general  appearance  of  the  poet  had,  from  the  first  mo- 
ment, interested  me  in  his  misfortunes ;  and  being  a  smalterer 


A   FEELIMG    DISPOSITION — HISTORY    OF    THE    POET    ASKER.         51 

in  learning  myself,  my  vanity,  perhaps,  was  flattered  with  tlie 
idea  of  becoming  the  protector  of  a  man  of  letters  in  distress. 
Without  appearing  to  show  any  particular  partiality  to  him,  I 
succeeded  in  being  appointed  to  keep  watch  over  him,  under 
the  plea  that  I  would  compel  him  to  make  verses ;  and  con- 
versing in  our  language,  we  were  able  to  communicate  with 
each  other  with  great  freedom  without  the  fear  of  being  under- 
stood. I  explained  my  situation,  and  informed  him  of  my  in- 
tentions to  escape,  and  assured  him  that  I  would  do  every  thing 
in  my  power  to  be  useful  to  him.  He  seemed  delighted  to 
meet  v>^ith  kind  words,  where  he  expected  nothing  but  ill 
treatment ;  and  when  I  had  thus  acquired  his  confidence,  he 
did  not  scruple  to  talk  to  me  freely  about  himself  and  his  con- 
cerns. I  discovered  what  I  had  before  suspected,  that  he 
was  a  man  of  consecpience,  for  he  was  no  less  a  personage  than 
the  court  poet,  enjoying  the  title  of  MeJeh  al  Sliolierah,  or  the 
Prince  of  Poets.  He  was  on  his  road  from  Shiraz  (whither  he 
had  been  sent  by  the  Shah  on  business)  to  Tehran,  and  had  that 
very  day  reached  Ispahan,  when  he  had  fallen  into  our  hands. 
In  order  to  beguile  the  tediousness  of  the  road  through  the  Salt 
Desert,  after  I  had  related  my  adventures,  I  requested  him  to 
give  me  an  account  of  his,  which  he  did  in  the  folio  wing- 
words  : 

"  I  Avas  born  in  the  city  of  Kerman,  and  my  name  is  Asker. 
My  father  was  for  a  long  time  governor  of  that  city,  during  the 
reign  of  the  eunuch  Aga  Mohammed  Shah  ;  and  although  the 
intrigues  that  were  set  on  foot  against  him  to  deprive  him  of 
his  government  were  very  mischievous,  still  such  was  his  re- 
spectability, that  his  enemies  never  entirely  prevailed  against 
him.  His  eyes  were  frequently  in  danger,  but  his  adroitness 
preserved  them  ;  and  he  had  at  last  the  good  fortune  to  die 
peaceably  in  his  bed  in  the  present  Shah's  reign.  I  was  per- 
mitted to  possess  the  property  which  he  left,  which  amounted 
to  about  10,000  tomauns.  In  my  youth  I  was  remarkable  for 
the  attention  which  I  paid  to  my  studies,  and  before  I  had  ar- 
rived at  the  age  of  sixteen  I  was  celebrated  for  writing  a  fine 
hand.  I  knew  Hafiz  entirely  by  heart,  and  had  myself  acquired 
such  a  facility  in  making  verses,  that  I  might  almost  be  said  to 
speak  in  numbers.  There  was  no  subject  that  I  did  not 
attempt.  I  wrote  on  the  loves  of  Leilah  and  Majnoun ;  I 
never  heard  the  note  of  a  nightingale,  but  I  made  it  pour  out  its 
loves  to  the  rose  ;  and  wherever  I  went  I  never  failed  to  pro- 
duce my  poetry  and  chant  it  out  in  the  assembly.  At  this 
time  the  king  was  waging  war  with  Sadik  Khan,  a  pretender 
to  the  throne,  and  a  battle  was  fought,  in  which  his  majesty 


52  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

commanded  in  person,  and  which  terminated  in  the  defeat  of 
the  rebel.  I  immediately  sang  the  king's  praises.  In  describ- 
ing the  contest,  I  made  Rnstam,  our  fabulous  hero,  appear, 
standing  in  a  cloud  just  over  the  field  of  battle  ;  who,  seeing 
the  king  lay  about  him  desperately,  exclaims  to  himself, 
'  Lucky  wight  am  I  to  be  here  instead  of  below,  for  certainly  I 
should  never  escape  from  Ms  blows.'  I  also  exerted  my  wit,  and 
was  much  extolled  when  I  said,  that  Sadik  Khan  and  his  troops 
ought  not  to  repine  after  all ;  for  although  they  were  van- 
quished, yet  still  the  king,  in  his  magnanimity,  had  exalted 
their  heads  to  the  skies.  In  this  I  alluded  to  a  pillar  of 
skulls  which  his  majesty  had  caused  to  be  erected  of  the  heads 
of  the  vanquished.  Those  sayings  of  mine  were  reported  to 
the  Shah,  and  he  was  pleased  to  confer  upon  me  the  highest 
honor  which  a  poet  can  receive  ;  namely,  causing  my  mouth  to 
be  filled  with  gold  coin  in  the  presence  of  the  whole  court,  at 
the  great  audience.  This  led  to  my  advancement ;  and  I  was 
appointed  to  attend  at  court,  and  to  write  verses  on  all  occasions. 
In  order  to  show  my  zeal,  I  represented  to  the  king,  that  as  in 
former  times  our  great  Ferdousi  had  written  his  Shah  Nameh, 
or  History  of  the  Kings,  it  behoved  him,  who  was  greater  than 
any  monarch  Persia  ever  possessed,  to  have  a  poet  who  should 
celebrate  his  reign  ;  and  I  entreated  permission  to  write  a 
Shahin  Shah  Nameh,  or  the  History  of  the  King  of  Kings  ;  to 
which  his  majesty  was  most  graciously  pleased  to  give  his  con- 
sent. One  of  my  enemies  at  court  was  the  lord  high  treasurer, 
who,  without  any  good  reason,  wanted  to  impose  upon  me  a 
fine  of  12,000  tomauns,  which  the  king,  on  the  plea  that  I  was 
the  first  poet  of  the  age,  would  not  allow.  It  happened  one 
day,  that  in  a  large  assembly,  the  subject  of  discussion  was  the 
liberality  of  Mahmoud  Shah  Ghaznevi  to  Ferdousi,  who  gave 
him  a  miscal  of  gold  for  every  couplet  in  the  Shah  Nameh. 
Anxious  that  the  king  should  hear  what  I  was  about  to  say,  I 
exclaimed:  'The  liberality  of  his  present  majesty  is  equal  to 
that  of  Mahmoud  Shah — equal  did  I  say  ?  nay  greater ;  be- 
cause in  the  one  case,  it  was  exercised  towards  the  most  cele- 
brated poet  of  Persia  ;  and  in  my  case,  it  is  exercised  towards 
the  humble  individual  now  before  you.' 

"  All  the  company  were  anxious  to  hear  how  and  when  such 
great  favors  had  been  conferred  upon  me.  '  In  the  first  place,' 
said  I,  '  when  my  father  died,  he  left  a  property  of  10,000 
tomauns  ;  the  king  permitted  me  to  inherit  it;  he  might  have 
taken  it  away — there  are  10,000  tomauns.  Then  the  lord  high 
treasurer  wanted  to  fine  me  12,000  tomauns;  the  king  did  not 
allow  it — there  are  12,000  more.     Then  the  rest  is  made  up  of 


A    FEELING    DISPOSITION— HISTORY    OF    THE    POET    ASKEK.         53 

what  I  have  subsisted  upon  ever  since  I  have  been  in  the  Shah's 
service,  and  so  ray  sum  is  made  out.'  And  then  I  toolc  to  my 
exclamations  of  '  May  the  king  live  for  ever  I  may  his  shadow 
never  be  less  I  may  he  conquer  all  his  enemies  !'  all  of  which, 
I  flattered  myself,  was  duly  reported  to  his  majesty  :  and  some 
days  after  I  was  invested  with  a  dress  of  honor,  consisting  of  a 
brocade  coat,  a  shawl  for  the  waist,  and  one  for  the  head,  and 
a  brocade  cloak  trimmed  with  fur.  I  was  also  honored  with 
the  title  of  Prince  of  Poets,  by  virtue  of  a  royal  firman,  which, 
according  to  the  usual  custom,  I  wore  in  my  cap  for  three  suc- 
cessive days,  receiving  the  congratulations  of  ray  friends,  and 
feeling  of  greater  consequence  than  I  had  ever  done  before.  I 
wrote  a  poera,  which  answered  the  double  purpose  of  gratify- 
ing my  revenge  for  the  ill  treatment  I  had  received  from  the 
lord  high  treasurer,  and  of  conciliating  his  good  graces;  for  it- 
had  a  double  meaning  all  through  :  what  he  in  his  ignorance 
mistook  for  praise,  was  in  fact  satire  ;  and  as  he  thought  that 
the  high-sounding  words  in  which  it  abounded,  (which,  being 
mostly  Arabic,  he  did  not  understand,)  must  contain  a  eulo- 
giura,  he  did  not  in  the  least  suspect  that  they  were  in  fact  ex- 
pressions containing  the  grossest  disrespect.  In  truth,  I  had 
so  cloaked  my  meaning,  that,  without  my  explanation,  it  would 
have  been  difficult  for  any  one  to  have  discovered  it.  But  it 
was  not  alone  in  poetry  that  I  excelled.  I  had  a  great  turn  for 
mechanics,  and  several  of  my  inventions  were  much  admired  at 
Court.  I  contrived  a  wheel  for  perpetual  motion,  which  only 
wants  one  little  addition  to  make  it  go  round  for  ever.  I  made 
different  sorts  of  colored  paper  ;  I  invented  a  new  sort  of  ink- 
stand :  and  was  on  the  high  road  to  making  cloth,  when  I  was 
stopped  by  his  majesty,  who  said  to  me,  '  Asker,  keep  to  your 
poetry:  whenever  I  want  cloth,  my  merchants  bring  it  from 
Europe.'  And  I  obeyed  his  instructions  ;  for  on  the  approach- 
ing festival  of  the  new  year's-day,  when  it  is  customary  for 
each  of  his  servants  to  make  him  a  present,  T  wrote  something 
so  happy  about  a  tooth-pick,  which  I  presented  in  a  handsome 
case,  that  the  principal  noblemen  of  the  Court,  at  the  great 
public  audience  of  that  sacred  day,  were  ordered  to  kiss  me  on 
the  mouth  for  my  pains.  I  compared  his  majesty's  teeth  to 
pearls,  and  the  tooth-pick  to  the  pearl-diver ;  his  gums  to  a 
coral  bank,  near  which  pearls  are  frequently  found  ;  and  the 
long  beard  and  moustaches  that  encircled  the  mouth  to  the  un- 
dulations of  the  ocean.  I  was  complimented  by  every  body 
present  upon  the  fertility  of  my  imagination  :  I  was  assured 
that  Ferdousi  was  a  downright  ass  when  com})ared  to  me.  By 
surli  means,  I  enjoyed  great  favor  with  the  Shah;  and  his 
5* 


54  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

majesty  being  anxious  to  give  me  an  opportunity  of  acquiring 
wealth  as  well  as  honors,  appointed  me  to  be  the  bearer  of  the 
usual  annual  dress  of  honor  which  he  sends  to  his  son,  the 
prince  of  the  province  of  Fars.  I  was  received  at  Shiraz  with 
the  greatest  distinctions,  and  presents  were  made  to  me  to  a 
considerable  amount ;  which,  in  addition  to  what  I  had  levied 
from  the  villages  on  the  road,  made  a  handsome  sum.  The 
event  of  last  night  has  deprived  me  of  all :  all  has  been  stolen 
from  me,  and  here  you  see  me  the  most  miserable  and  most 
wretched  of  beings.  If  you  do  not  manage  to  help  me  to  escape, 
I  fear  that  I  shall  die  a  prisoner.  Perhaps  the  king  may  be 
anxious  to  release  me,  but  certainly  he  will  never  pay  one 
farthing  for  my  ransom.  The  lord  high  treasurer  is  not  my 
friend  ;  and  since  I  told  the  grand  vizier,  that  with  all  his  wis- 
dom he  did  not  know  how  to  wind  up  a  watch,  much  less  how 
it  was  made,  I  fear  that  he  also  will  not  care  for  my  loss.  The 
money,  with  which  I  might  have  purchased  my  ransom,  the 
barbarians  have  taken  ;  and  where  to  procure  a  similar  sura  I 
know  not.  It  is  my  fate  to  have  fallen  into  this  disaster, 
therefore  I  must  not  repine  :  but  let  me  entreat  you,  as  you  are 
a  fellow  Mussulman — as  you  hate  Omar,  and  love  Ali — let  me 
entreat  you  to  help  me  in  my  distress." 


CHAPTER  YIII. 

HAJJI  BABA  ESCAPES  FROM  THE  TURCOMANS. 

As  soon  as  the  poet  had  finished  his  narrative,  I  assured  him 
that  I  would  do  every  thing  in  my  power  to  serve  him  ;  but  I 
recommended  patience  to  him  for  the  present,  as  I  had  not  yet 
devised  the  means  of  procuring  my  own  liberty,  and  foresaw 
great  difficulties  in  saving  him  at  the  same  time.-  It  Avould  be 
impossible  to  evade  the  watchfulness  of  our  masters,  as  long  as 
we  were  in  the  open  desert :  their  horses  were  as  good  as  mine, 
and  they  were  much  better  acquainted  with  the  country  than  I 
was.  To  run  away  from  them  under  these  circumstances  would 
be  madness ;  therefore  it  was  only  left  us  to  watch  the  smallest 
opportunity  that  might  be  given  us  of  escape. 

We  had  reached  the  limits  of  the  Salt  Desert,  and  were  about 
crossing  the  high  road  that  leads  from  Tehran  to  Meshed, 
about  twenty  parasangs  to  the  east  of  Daragan,  when  Asian 


HAJJI    BAEA    ESCAPES    FROM    THE    TURCOMANS.  55 

Sultan  made  a  halt,  and  proposed  that  we  should  remain  con- 
cealed for  a  day  in  the  broken  ground  that  borders  the  road,  in 
the  hopes  that  fortune  might  throw  us  in  the  way  of  a  passing 
caravan,  v/hich  it  was  his  intention  that  we  should  pillage.  At 
the  very  dawn  of  the  following  day,  a  spy,  who  had  been  sta- 
tioned on  an  adjacent  hill,  came  in  great  haste  to  report  that  he 
saw  clouds  of  dust  rising  in  the  direction  of  Damgan,  and 
approaching  towards  us,  on  the  road  leading  to  Meshed. 

Immediately  we  were  all  upon  the  alert.  The  Turcomans 
left  their  prisoners,  bound  hand  and  foot,  on  the  spot  where  we 
had  rested,  with  the  intention  of  returning  to  take  them  up  as 
soon  as  we  should  have  rifled  the  caravan,  and,  fully  equipped, 
we  sallied  forth,  with  great  caution,  determined  on  blood  and 
plunder. 

Asian  himself  proceeded  before  the  rest,  in  order  to  recon- 
noitre;  and  calling  me  to  him,  said,  "Now,  Ilajji,  here  is  an 
opportunity  for  distinguishing  yourself.  You  shall  accompany 
me  ;  and  you  will  observe  the  precautions  I  use,  previous  to 
showing  our  whole  body,  which  it  may  be  necessary  for  you  to 
know,  in  order  that  you  may  be  able  to  conduct  such  an  enter- 
prise yourself  on  some  future  occasion.  I  take  you  with  rae, 
in  case  I  should  be  obliged  to  use  an  interpreter ;  for  frequently, 
in  these  caravans,  there  is  not  a  person  who  understands  our 
language.  We  will  approach  as  near  as  we  can,  perhaps  have 
a  parley  with  the  conductor,  and  if  we  cannot  make  terms  with 
him,  we  will  fall  on  with  our  whole  party." 

As  the  travelers  approached,  I  perceived  that  Asian  Sultan 
became  uneasy.  "This  is  no  caravan,  I  fear,"  said  he;  "they 
march  in  too  compact  a  body ;  besides,  I  hear  no  bells;  the  dust 
is  too  great  in  one  spot.  I  see  spears ! — it  is  an  immense  cavalcade 
— five  lead  horses  ! — this  is  no  game  for  us." 

In  fact,  as  they  approached,  it  was  easy  to  discover  that  it 
was  no  caravan,  but  some  great  personage,  the  govornor  of  a 
province  at  least,  who  was  travelling,  attended  by  a  numerous 
escort  of  horsemen  and  servants,  and  with  all  the  pomp  and  glit- 
ter usual  on  such  occasions. 

My  heart  leaped  within  me  when  I  saw  this,  for  here  was  an 
excellent  opportunity  for  escape.  Could  I  approach  near 
enough  to  be  taken  prisoner  by  them,  without  exciting  any  pre- 
vious suspicion  in  my  master,  I  shoukl  be  safe  ;  and  although  I 
might  be  ill  treated  at  first,  still  I  trusted  to  my  eloquence  to 
make  my  story  believed.  Accordingly,  I  said  to  my  companion, 
"Let  us  approach  nearer;"  and  without  waiting  for  his  permis- 
sion, I  excited  my  horse  onwards.  He  immediately  followed, 
witii  an  intention  of  stopping  me  ;  but  we  had  no  sooner  cleared 


5G  THE    ADVENTURES    OF    IIAJJI    BABA. 

the  small  elevated  ground  behind  which  we  had  posted  our- 
selves, than  we  came  in  full  view  of  the  whole  part)',  and  were 
scarcely  a  bow-shot  from  them.  As  soon  as  we  were  disco- 
vered, some  six  or  seven  of  their  best  horsemen  were  detached 
from  the  rest  of  the  body,  and,  at  the  fullest  speed  of  their  horses, 
came  toward  us.  We  turned  about  to  fly  :  as  much  as  Asian 
urged  on  his  steed,  so  much  did  I  restrain  mine ;  and  by  this 
manoeuvre  I  was  very  soon  overtaken  and  seized.  To  be 
knocked  off  my  horse,  disarmed,  plundered  of  my  fifty  ducats, 
my  razors,  and  all  my  other  effects,  was  but  the  business  of  a 
few  seconds  ;  and  although  I  assured  my  new  masters  that  I 
was  in  no  intention  to  leave  them,  still  they  persisted  in  tying 
my  arms  behind  me,  with  my  own  shawl,  which  they  took  from 
round  my  waist  for  that  purpose.  Thus  pinioned,  and  receiv- 
ing blows  every  now  and  then,  because  I  did  not  move  fast 
enough,  I  was  dragged  before  their  chief,  who  made  a  halt, 
surrounded  by  his  attendants. 

From  the  sort  of  attentions  which  he  had  received,  and  the 
low  inclinations  of  the  body  that  were  made  before  him,  I 
imagined  that  he  must  be  a  royal  personage,  and  I  was  soon 
informed  as  much,  when  I  came  near ;  for  several  blows  on  the 
head  were  given  me,  as  hints  to  make  me  prostrate  myself  before 
a  shahzadeh,  or  prince.  A  large  circle  being  made,  he  ordered 
me  to  be  released,  and  as  soon  as  I  felt  myself  free,  at  one 
bound  I  disengaged  myself  from  those  near  me,  and  seizing  upon 
the  skirt  of  his  cloak,  as  he  was  seated  on  his  horse,  I  exclaim- 
ed, ^'  Penah  be  shahzadeh  1''^  Protection  from  the  prince.  One 
of  the  guards  rushed  forward  to  punish  my  audacity ;  but  the 
prince  would  not  allow  the  sacred  custom  to  be  infringed,  and 
promised  me  his  protection.  Ordering  his  servants  not  to 
molest  me,  he,  at  the  same  time,  commanded  me  to  relate  how 
I  came  to  be  placed  in  the  predicament  in  which  I  now  stood. 

Falling  on  my  knees,  and  kissing  the  ground,  I  related  my 
story  in  as  concise  a  manner  as  possible  ;  and,  to  corrofeorate 
all  that  I  had  said,  I  added,  that  if  he  would  order  his  horse- 
men to  attack  the  party  of  Turcomans,  who  still  were  close 
at  hand,  they  might  release  the  king's  poet,  with  two  other 
Persians,  who  were  prisoners  in  their  hands,  and  they  would 
fully  confirm  all  that  I  had  asserted. 

I  bad  no  sooner  said  this  than  the  hoi'semen,  who  had  pur- 
sued Asian  Sultan,  returned,  with  looks  of  great  dismay, 
swearing  by  Ali  and  by  the  head  of  the  king,  that  an  immense 
body  of  Turcomans,  at  least  one  thousand  strong,  were  march> 
ing  down  upon  us,  and  that  the  prince  must  prepare  to  fight. 
In  vain  I  explained  to  them  that  they  were  only  twenty  in 


HAJJl    BABA    ESCAPES    FROM   THE   TURCOMANS.  57 

number — nobody  would  believe  me ;  I  was  treated  as  a  spy 
and  a  liar,  and  every  one  said  that  if  the  Turcomaiis  did  attack, 
they  would  put  me  to  death  on  the  spot.  The  party  then  pro- 
ceeded onwards  at  a  good  pace,  looking  about  in  all  directions 
for  the  expected  enemy,  and  betraying  all  those  symptoms  of 
apprehension  which  the  very  name  of  Turcoman  excites  through- 
out the  whole  of  Persia. 

My  own  horse  had  been  taken  from  me,  and  I  was  permitted  to 
ride  upon  a  baggage  mule,  where  I  had  time  to  ponder  over 
my  wretched  fate  and  miserable  prospects.  Without  a  farthing 
in  my  pocket,  without  a  friend,  I  saw  nothing  before  me  but 
starvation.  I  had  not  yet  become  a  sufficiently  good  Mussul- 
man to  receive  comfort  from  predestination,  and  I  absolutely 
sobbed  aloud  at  my  own  folly,  for  having  voluntarily  been  the 
cause  of  my  present  misery.  That  fond  partiality  for  my  own 
countrymen,  which  used  to  predominate  so  powerfully  in  my 
breast  when  I  was  a  prisoner,  entirely  forsook  me  here,  and  I 
cursed  them  aloud. 

"  Ye  call  yourselves  Mussulmans  !"  said  I  to  those  around  mc  : 
"  Ye  have  not  the  feelings  of  dogs.  Dogs  did  I  say  ?  Ye  are 
worse  than  Christian's  dogs — the  Turcomans  are  men  compared 
to  you." 

Then  when  I  found  that  this  sort  of  language  only  produced 
laughter  in  my  auditors,  I  tried  what  entreaty  would  do.  "  For 
the  love  of  Imam  Ilossein,  for  the  sake  of  the  Prophet,  by  the 
souls  of  your  children,  why  do  you  treat  a  stranger  thus  ?  Am 
I  not  a  Mussulman  like  yourselves  ?  What  have  I  done  that  I 
should  be  made  to  devour  this  grief  ?  I  sought  refuge  amongst 
you  as  friends,  and  I  am  thrust  away  as  an  enemy." 

For  all  this  I  got  no  consolation,  excepting  from  an  old 
muleteer,  by  name  Ali  Katir,  who  had  just  lighted  his  water- 
pipe,  and  giving  it  to  me  to  smoke,  said,  "My  son,  everything 
in  this  world  is  in  the  hand  of  God."  Pointing  to  the  mule 
upon  which  he  rode,  he  added,  "  If  God  has  made  this  animal 
white,  can  Ali  Katir  make  it  black  ?  It  one  day  gets  a  feed 
of  corn  ;  on  the  next  it  browses  upon  a  thistle.  Can  we  con- 
tend with  fate  ?  Smoke  your  pipe  now  and  be  happy,  and  be 
thankful  that  it  is  not  worse  with  you.  Ilafiz  says,  '  Every 
moment  of  pleasure  that  you  enjoy,  count  it  again  : — who  can 
say  what  will  be  the  end  of  an  event  ?'  " 

This  speech  of  the  muleteer  soothed  me  a  little,  and  as  he 
found  that  I  was  as  well  versed  in  Ilafiz  as  he,  and  not  back- 
ward in  permitting  myself  to  be  comforted,  he  treated  me  with 
much  kindness,  and  made  mc  a  partaker  of  his  mess  during  the 
remainder  of  the  journey.     lie  informed  me  that  "the  prince 


58  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

in  whose  hands  I  had  fallen,  was  the  Shah's  fifth  son,  who  had 
lately  been  installed  in  the  government  of  the  province  of 
Khorassan,  and  was  now  on  his  road  to  Meshed,  the  seat  of 
his  jurisdiction.  He  was  escorted  by  a  greater  number  of  at- 
tendants than  ordinary,  on  account  of  the  alarming  state  of  the 
Turcoman  frontier,  and  it  was  said  that  he  had  instructions  to 
commence  very  active  operations  against  that  people,  as  many 
of  whose  heads  as  possible  he  was  invited  to  send  to  Tehran, 
to  be  piled  up  before  the  gate  of  the  royal  palace ;  and  you 
may  account  yourself  very  fortunate,  added  the  muleteer,  "that 
yours  was  not  taken  off  your  shoulders.  Had  you  happened 
to  be  fair,  with  little  eyes,  and  without  much  hair,  instead  of  a 
dark  man,  as  you  are,  you  certainly  would  have  been  put  to 
death,  and  your  head  would  have  been  pickled,  and  made  to 
pass  for  that  of  a  Turcoman." 

When  we  had  reached  our  resting-place  at  night,  which  was 
a  lonely  caravanserai  half  in  ruins,  situated  on  the  skirts  of 
the  desert,  I  determined  to  endeavor  to  procure  admittance  to 
the  prince,  and  to  make  an  effort  to  regain  ray  fifty  ducats,  my 
horse  and  arms,  which  I  made  no  scruple  in  claiming  as  my 
own,  notwithstanding  a  certain  little  voice  within  me,  which 
told  me  that  another  had  almost  as  much  right  to  them  as  I 
had.  I  accordingly  watched  an  opportunity,  just  before  the 
evening  prayer,  of  presenting  myself  to  him.  He  was  seated 
on  a  carpet  that  had  been  spread  on  the  terrace  of  the  cara- 
vanserai, reposing  himself  on  his  cushion,  and  before  his 
attendants  had  had  time  to  beat  me  off,  I  exclaimed,  "  Arzi 
darum,'^  I  have  a  petition  to  make.  Upon  which  he  ordered 
me  to  approach,  and  asked  me  what  I  wanted  ?  I  complained 
of  the  treatment  I  had  received  from  his  servants  who  had  first 
seized  me — how  they  had  robbed  me  of  my  fifty  ducats ;  -and  I 
then  entreated  that  my  horse  and  arms  might  be  restored 
to  me.  He  inquired  of  those  surrounding  him  who  the  men 
were  that  I  complained  of,  and  when  their  names  were  men- 
tioned, he  sent  his  chief  tent-pitcher  to  conduct  them  to  him. 
As  soon  as  they  appeared,  for  they  were  two;  I  recognized  the 
aggressors,  and  affirmed  them  to  be  such  to  the  prince. 

"  Sons  of  dogs,"  said  he  to  them,  "  where  is  the  money  you 
stole  from  this  man  ?" 

"  We  took  nothing,"  they  immediately  exclaimed. 

"We  shall  soon  see  that,"  answered  he.  "  Call  the  fer  ashes," 
said  he  to  one  of  his  officers,  "  and  let  them  beat  the  rogues 
on  the  soles  of  their  feet  till  they  produce  the  fifty  ducats." 

They  were  immediately  seized,  and  when  their  feet  Avere  in 
the  air,  strongly  tied  in  the  noose,  and  after  receiving  a  few 


HAJJI    BABA    BECOMES    A    WATER-CARRIER.  59 

blows,  they  confessed  that  they  had  taken  the  money,  and  pro- 
duced it.  It  was  forthwith  carried  to  the  prince,  who  deliber- 
ately counted  it  over,  and  putting?  it  under  the  cushion  upon 
which  he  was  reclining,  released  the  culprits,  and  said  in  a 
loud  voice  to  me,  "You  are  dismissed."  I  stood  with  my 
mouth  wide  open,  hoping  to  see  the  money  handed  over  to 
me,  when  his  master  of  ceremonies  took  me  by  the  shoulders 
and  pushed  me  away.  I  exclaimed,  "And  my  money,  where 
is  it  ?" 

"  What  does  he  say  ?"  said  the  prince  :  "  give  him  the  shoe  if 
he  speaks  again."  When  the  master  of  ceremonies,  taking  off 
his  high  green  slipper,  struck  me  over  the  mouth  with  the  heel 
of  it,  shod  with  iron,  saying,  "Do  you  speak  to  a  king's  son 
thus  ?  Go  in  peace,  and  keep  your  eyes  open,  or  you'll  have 
your  ears  cut  off;" — and  so  I  was  pushed  and  dragged  violently 
away. 

I  returned  in  utter  despair  to  my  muleteer,  who  appeared  not 
in  the  least  surprised  at  what  had  happened,  and  said,  "  What 
could  you  expect  more  ?  After  all,  is  he  not  a  prince  ?  When 
once  he  or  any  man  in  power  gets  possession  of  a  thing,  do  you 
think  that  they  will  ever  restore  it  ?  You  might  as  well  expect  a 
mule  to  give  up  a  mouthful  of  fresh  grass,  when  once  it  has  got 
it  within  its  mouth,  as  a  prince  to  give  up  money  that  has  once 
been  in  his  hands." 


CHAPTER  IX. 

HAJJI    BABA    BECOMES    A    WATER-CARRIER. 

We  reached  Meshed  in  due  time,  and  the  prince  made  his 
solemn  entry,  amidst  all  the  noise,  parade,  and  confusion 
attendant  upon  such  ceremonies.  I  found  myself  a  solitary 
being,  in  strange  city,  distant  from  my  friends,  and  from  any 
creature  to  whom  I  might  look  for  assistance,  and  without  even 
a  pair  of  razors  to  comfort  me.  When  I  looked  at  my  present 
means,  I  found  that  they  consisted  of  five  tomauns — which  I 
had  managed  to  secrete  from  the  sack  I  had  stolen  in  the  cara- 
vanserai, and  which  I  had  put  between  the  lining  of  my  cap — 
of  a  brown  woolen  coat,  of  a  sheepskin  jacket,  a  shirt,  a  pair 
of  trowsers,  and  a  pair  of  heavy  boots.  I  had  lived  upon  the 
muleteer  as  long  as  he  enjoyed  the  daily  allowance  of  provisions 


60  THE    ADVEXTDRES    OF    HAJJI    BABA. 

that  he  received  during  the  time  when  he  was  attached  to  the  suite 
of  the  prince ;  but  now  that  he  and  his  mules  were  discharged, 
I  could  not  expect  that  he  should  continue  to  support  me.  I 
thought  of  again  taking  to  my  profession ;  but  who  would 
trust  their  throats  to  a  man  who  had  the  reputation  of  being  a 
Turcoman  spy  ?  Besides,  although  I  might  pui'chase  razors, 
yet  my  means  were  not  large  enough  to  set  up  a  shop,  and  I 
was  determined  not  to  become  a  journeyman. 

My  friend,  the  muleteer,  who  knew  the  ways  and  means  of 
Meshed,  recommended  me  strongly  to  become  a  saha,  or  water- 
carrier.  "  You  are  young  and  strong,"  said  he  :  "you  have  a 
good  voice,  and  would  entice  people  to  drink  by  an  harmonious 
cry.  You  have  besides  a  great  talent  for  cant  and  palaver, 
and  for  laughing  at  one's  beard.  The  number  of  pilgrims  who 
come  to  Meshed  to  perform  their  devotions  at  the  tomb  of  the 
Imam  is  great,  and  charity  being  one  of  the  principal  instru- 
ments which  they  use  for  the  salvation  of  their  souls,  they  give 
freely  to  those  who  promise  them  the  best  reward.  You  must 
sell  each  draught  in  the  name  and  for  the  sake  of  Imam  Hos- 
sein  ;  for  he,  you  know,  is  the  favorite  saint  of  all  the  sectaries 
of  Ali.  Always  offer  it  gratis  ;  but  be  sure  you  get  the  money 
in  hand  before  you  pour  it  out ;  and  when  your  customer  has 
drank,  say,  with  great  emphasis,  "May  your  draught  be  propi- 
tious 1  May  the  holy  Imam  take  you  under  his  protection  ! 
May  you  never  suffer  the  thirst  of  the  blessed  Hossien  !"■  and 
such  like  sort  of  speeches,  which  you  must  chant  out  so  loud 
that  every  body  may  hear  you.  lu  short,  to  devotees  who  come 
some  hundreds  of  parasangs  to  say  their  prayers,  you  may  say 
any  thing  and  every  thing,  and  you  will  be  sure  to  be  believed, 
I  myself  have  been  a  saka  at  Meshed,  and  know  the  trade.  It 
has  enabled  me  to  buy  a  string  of  mules,  and  to  be  the  man 
you  see. 

I  followed  my  friend's  advice.  I  forthwith  laid  out  my  money 
in  buying  a  leather  sack,  with  a  brass  cock,  which  I  slung  round 
my  body,  and  also  a  bright  drinking  cup.  After  having  filled 
it  with  water,  and  let  it  soak  for  some  time,  in  order  to  do  away 
the  bad  smell  of  the  leather,  I  sallied  forth,  and  proceeded  to 
the  tomb,  where  I  immediately  began  my  operations.  The  cry 
I  adopted  was  "Water,  water!  in  the  name  of  the  Imam, 
water."  This  I  chanted  with  all  the  force  and  swell  of  my 
lungs,  and  having  practised  under  the  tuition  of  the  muleteer 
for  two  days  before,  I  was  assured  that  I  acquitted  myself  as 
well  as  the  oldest  practitioners.  As  soon  as  I  appeared,  I  im- 
mediately drew  the  attention  of  the  other  sakas,  who  seemed  to 
question  the  right  I  had  to  exercise  their  profession.     When  I 


HAJJI    BABA    BECOMES    A    WATER-CARRIER.  61 

showed  myself  at  the  reservoir,  to  draw  water,  they  wouki  have 
quarreled  with  me,  and  one  attempted  to  push  me  in  ;  but  tliey 
found  me  resohite,  and  that  my  resohitioii  was  backed  by  a  set 
of  strong  and  active  limbs,  and  therefore  they  confined  themselves 
to  abusive  language,  of  which  being  the  entire  master,  I  soon 
got  the  lead,  and  completely  silenced  them.  Nature,  in  fact, 
seemed  to  have  intended  me  for  a  saka.  The  water  which  I 
had  a  moment  before  drawn  from  a  filthy  reservoir,  I  extolled 
as  having  flowed  from  a  spring  created  by  Ali  in  person,  equal 
to  the  sacred  well  of  Zem  Zem,  and  branch  of  the  river  which 
flows  through  Paradise.  It  is  inconceivable  how  it  was  relished, 
and  how  considerable  was  the  money  I  received  for  giving  it 
gratis.  I  was  always  on  the  watch  to  discover  when  a  new  set 
of  pilgrims  should  arrive,  and  before  they  had  even  alighted 
from  their  mules,  all  dusty  from  the  road,  and  all  happy  at  hav- 
ing escaped  the  Turcomans,  I  plied  them  in  the  name  of  the 
Prophet  with  a  refreshing  draught,  and  made  them  recollect 
that  this  being  the  first  devotional  act  which  they  performed  on 
reaching  Meshed,  so  out  of  gratitude  for  their  safe  arrival,  they 
ought  to  reward  me  liberally  ;  and  my  admonitions  were  scarcely 
ever  disregarded. 

The  commemoration  of  the  death  of  Ilossein,  which  is  so  re- 
ligiously kept  throughout  Persia,  was  now  close  at  hand,  and  I 
determined  to  put  myself  into  training  to  appear  as  the  water- 
carrier,  who,  on  the  last  day  of  the  festival,  which  is  held  the 
most  sacred,  performs  a  conspicuous  character  in  the  tragedy. 
This  was  to  be  acted  in  public  before  the  prince  in  the  great 
open  square  of  the  city,  and  I  expected  to  acquire  much  repu- 
tation and  profit  from  the  feat  of  strength  which  I  should  per- 
form, which  consists  of  carrying  an  immense  sack  full  of  water, 
on  the  back,  accompanied  by  additional  exertions.  I  had  a 
rival,  who  accomplished  the  task  on  the  last  festival ;  but  as 
the  sack  I  was  about  to  carry  contained  infinitely  more  water 
than  he  could  support,  my  claim  to  superiority  was  not  to  be 
disputed.  However  I  was  advised  to  be  on  ray  guard,  for  he 
was  of  a  jealous  character,  and  would  not  lose  an  opportunity 
of  doing  me  an  injury  if  he  could.  When  the  day  arrived,  the 
prince  being  seated  in  an  upper  room  situated  over  the  gate  of 
his  palace,  and  the  whole  population  of  the  city  assembled  to 
witness  the  religious  ceremonies,  I  appeared,  naked  to  the  waist, 
with  my  body  streaming  with  blood,  slowly  walking  under  the 
weight  of  my  immense  sack.  Having  reached  the  window  at 
which  the  prince  was  seated,  I  attracted  his  notice  by  loud  ex- 
clamations for  his  happiness  and  prosperity.  lie  threw  me 
down  a  gold  coin,  and  expressed  himself  pleased  with  my  per- 
6 


62  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

formance.  In  my  exultation  I  invited  several  boys,  who  were 
near  at  hand  for  the  purpose,  to  pile  themselves  upon  my  load, 
which  they  did,  to  the  astonishment  of  the  crowd,  who  encou- 
raged me  by  their  cries  and  applause.  I  called  for  another  boy, 
when  my  rival,  who  had  watched  his  opportunity,  sprunt^  for- 
ward and  mounted  himself  on  the  very  top  of  all,  hoping,  no 
doubt,  to  crush  me ;  but,  exerting  myself  to  the  utmost  of  my 
strength,  I  carried  my  burthen  clean  off,  amidst  the  animating 
shouts  of  the  staring  multitude.  But  although  in  the  heat  of 
the  exertion  I  felt  no  inconvenience,  yet  when  I  was  disencum- 
bered I  found  that  my  back  was  sprained  so  severely,  that  T  was 
totally  unfitted  for  the  trade  of  a  water-carrier  for  the  future.  I 
therefore  sold  my  sack  and  other  articles,  and,  with  the  money 
that  I  had  gained  in  water-selling,  I  found  myself  well  off,  com- 
pared to  the  deplorable  situation  in  which  I  was  on  my  arrival 
at  Meshed.  My  friend,  the  muleteer,  had  departed  some  time 
before  the  festival  with  a  caravan  for  Tehran,  so  I  was  deprived 
of  his  counsels.  I  should  have  demanded  justice  for  the  injury 
done  me  by  my  rival,  and  might  have  dragged  him  before  the 
cadi  ;  but  I  was  assured  that  in  the  Mohamcdan  law  there  is 
no  provision  made  for  a  sprain.  It  is  written  an  eye  for  an  eye, 
and  a  tooth  for  a  tooth  ;  but  there  is  no  sprain  for  a  sprain. 
Had  I  had  some  powerful  protector,  who  would  have  prosecuted 
the  business  for  me,  perhaps  I  might  have  got  redress  ;  but  a 
miserable  creature  like  myself,  unknown  and  unfriended,  I  could 
have  gained  nothing,  and  perhaps  have  stood  a  chance  of  losing 
the  little  money  I  had  acquired. 


CHAPTER  X. 


A    NEW    PROFESSION. 


I  HELD  a  consultation  with  myself  as  to  what  I  should  do 
next  for  my  livelihood.  Yarious  walks  in  life  were  open  to  me. 
The  begging  line  was  an  excellent  one  in  Meshed,  and  judging 
from  my  success  as  a  water-carrier,  I  should  very  soon  have  been 
at  the  head  of  the  profession.  I  might  also  have  become  a 
luti^  and  kept  a  bear ;  but  it  required  some  apprenticeship  to 
learn  the  tricks  of  the  one,  and  to  know  how  to  tame  the  other ; 

*  The  luties  are  privileged  buffoons,  addicted  to  keeping  monkeys,  bears,  and 
other  animals. 


A    NEW    PROFESSION.  63  " 

SO  I  gave  that  up.  Still  I  might  liave  followed  my  owa  profes- 
sion, and  have  taken  a  shop ;  but  I  could  not  bear  the  thought  of 
settling,  particularly  in  so  remote  a  town  as  Meshed.  At  length 
I  followed  the  bent  of  my  inclination,  and,  as  I  was  myself  de- 
votedly fond  of  smoking,  I  determined  to  become  an  itinerant 
seller  of  smoke.  Accordingly  I  bought  pipes  of  various  sizes, 
a  wooden  tray,  containing  the  pipe-heads,  which  was  strapped 
round  my  waist,  an  iron  pot  for  fire,  which  I  carried  in  my 
hand,  a  pair  of  iron  pincers,  a  copper  jug  for  water,  that  was 
suspended  by  a  hook  behind  my  back,  and  some  long  bags  for 
my  tobacco.  All  these  commodities  were  fastened  upon  my 
body,  and  when  I  was  fully  equipped,  I  might  be  said  to  look 
like  a  porcupine  with  all  its  quills  erect.  My  tobacco  was  of 
various  sorts — Tabas,  Shiraz,  Susa,  and  Damascus.  It  is  true 
that  I  was  not  very  scrupulous  about  giving  it  pure  ;  for  with  a 
very  small  quantity  of  the  genuine  leaf  I  managed  to  make  a 
large  store,  with  the  assistance  of  diflerent  sorts  of  dungs.  I 
had  great  tact  in  discovering  amongst  my  customers  the  real 
connoisseur,  and  to  him  I  gave  it  almost  genuine.  My  whole 
profits,  in  fact,  depended  upon  my  discrimination  of  characters. 
To  those  of  the  middling  ranks,  I  gave  it  half  mixed  ;  to  the 
lower  sort,  three-quarters  ;  and  to  the  lowest  almost  without 
any  tobacco  at  all.  Whenever  I  thought  I  could  perceive  a 
wry  face,  I  immediately  exerted  my  ingenuity  in  favor  of  the 
excellence  of  my  tobacco.  I  showed  specimens  of  the  good, 
descanted  on  its  superior  qualities,  and  gave  the  history  of  the 
very  gardener  who  had  reared  it,  and  pledged  myself  to  point 
out  the  very  spot  in  his  grounds  where  it  grew. 

I  became  celebrated  in  Meshed  for  the  excellence  of  my 
pipes.  My  principal  customer  was  a  dervish,  who  was  so 
great  a  connoisseur  that  I  never  dared  to  give  him  any  but  pure 
tobacco  ;  and  although  I  did  not  gain  much  by  him,  particularly 
as  he  was  not  very  exact  in  his  payments,  yet  his  conversation 
was  so  agreeable,  and  he  rccomended  so  many  of  his  friends  to 
me,  that  I  cultivated  his  good  will  to  the  utmost  of  my  power. 

Dervish  Sefer  (for  that  was  his  name)  was  a  man  of  a 
peculiar  aspect.  He  had  a  large  aquiline  nose,  piercing  black 
eyes,  a  thick  beard,  and  a  great  quantity  of  jet  black  hair  flow- 
ing over  his  shoulders.  His  conical  cap  was  embroidered  all 
over  with  sentences  from  the  Koran,  and  holy  invocations  :  the 
skin  of  a  red  deer  was  fastened  loosely  upon  his  back,  with  the 
hairy  side  outwards  :  he  bore  in  hancl  a  long  steel  staff,  which 
he  generally  carried  on  his  shoulder,  and  in  the  other  a  calabash, 
suspended  by  three  chains,  which  he  extended  whenever  he 
deigned  to  ask  the  charity  of  passengers.     In  his   girdle  he 


64  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

wore  large  agate  clasps,  from  which  hnng  a  quantity  of  heavy 
wooden  beads  ;  and,  as  he  swung  himself  along  through  the  streets 
and  bazaars,  there  was  so  much  of  wildness  and  solicitude  in  all 
his  words  and  actions,  that  he  did  not  fail  to  inspire  a  certain 
awe  in  all  beholders.  This',  I  afterwards  learnt,  was  put  on,  in 
order  to  suit  the  character  which  he  had  adopted;  for  when  he 
smoked  my  pipes,  if  no  one  chanced  to  be  present,  he  was  the 
most  natural  and  unreserved  of  beings.  Our  acquaintance  soon 
improved  into  intimacy,  and  at  length  he  introduced  me  into  a 
small  circle  of  dervishes,  men  of  his  own  turn  and  profession, 
with  whom  he  lived  almost  exclusively,  and  I  was  invited  to 
frequent  their  meetings.  It  is  true  that  this  did  not  suit  my 
views  in  the  smoking  line,  for  they  consumed  more  of  my  good 
tobacco  than  did  the  rest  of  my  customers  put  together ;  but 
their  society  was  so  agreeable  that  I  could  not  resist  the 
temptation. 

Dervish  Sefer,  one  evening  when  we  had  smoked  more  than 
usual,  said  to  me,  "  Ilajji  Baba,  yon  are  too  much  of  a  man  to  be  a 
seller  of  smoke  all  your  life  : — why  do  you  not  turn  dervish, 
likens?  We  hold  men's  beards  as  cheap  as  dirt;  and  although 
our  existence  is  precarious,  yet  it  is  one  of  great  variety,  as  well 
as  of  great  idleness.  We  look  upon  mankind  as  fair  game — we 
live  upon  their  weakness  and  credulity ;  and,  from  what  I  have 
seen  of  you,  I  think  you  would  do  honor  to  our  profession,  and  in 
time  become  as  celebrated  as  even  the  famous  Sheikh  Saadi 
himself."  This  speech  was  applauded  by  the  other  two,  who 
pressed  my  entering  upon  their  profession.  I  was  nothing  loath, 
but  I  pleaded  ray  ignorance  of  the  necessary  qualifications. 
"How  is  it  possible,"  said  I,  "that  a  being  so  ignorant  and  in- 
experienced as  I  am,  can  at  once  attain  to  all  the  learning  requi- 
site for  a  dervish  ?  I  know  how  to  read  and  write,  'tis  true  ;  I 
have  gone  through  the  Koran,  and  have  my  Hafiz  and  Saadi 
nearly  by  heart  ;  besides  which,  I  have  read  a  great  part  of  the 
Shah  Nameh  of  Ferdousi,  but  beyond  that  I  am  totally  ignorant." 
"Ah,  my  friend,"  said  Dervish  Sefer,  "little  do  you  know  of 
dervishes,  and  still  less  of  human  kind.  It  is  not  great  learning 
that  is  required  to  make  a  dervish  :  assurance  is  the  first  ingre- 
dient. '  With  one  fiftieth  part  of  the  accomplishments  that  you 
have  mentioned,  and  with  only  a  common  share  of  effrontery,  I 
promise  you,  that  you  may  command  not  only  the  purses,  but 
even  the  lives  of  your  hearers.  By  impudence  I  have  been  a 
prophet,  by  impudence  I  have  wrought  miracles,  by  impudence 
I  have  restored  the  dying  to  health — by  impudence,  in  short,  I 
lead  a  life  of  great  ease,  and  am  feared  and  respected  by  those 
who,  like  you,  do  not  know  what  dervishes  are.     If  I  chose  to 


HISTORY    OF    THE    DERVISHES.  65 

o-ive  myself  the  trouble,  and  incur  the  risks  which  Mahomed 
himself  did,  I  might  even  now  become  as  great  a  prophet  as  he. 
It  would  be  as  easy  for  me  to  cut  the  moon  in  two  with  my 
finger  as  it  was  for  hiin,  provided  I  once  made  my  hearers  have 
confidence  in  me  ;  and  impudence  will  do  that,  and  more,  if 
exerted  in  a  proper  manner."  When  Dervish  Sefer  had  done 
talking,  his  companions  applauded  what  he  had  said,  and  they 
related  so  many  curious  anecdotes  of  the  feats  which  they  had 
performed,  that  I  became  very  anxious  to  know  more  of  these 
extraordinary  men.  They  promised  to  relate  the  history  of 
their  lives  at  our  next  meeting,  and,  in  the  meanwhile,  recom- 
mended me  strongly  to  turn  my  thoughts  to  a  line  of  life  more 
dignified,  and  fuller  of  enjoyment,  than  that  of  a  vagabond  seller 
of  adulterated  smoke. 


CHAPTER  XI. 

HISTORY    OF    THE   DERVISHES. 

When  we  had  again  collected  ourselves  together,  each  with  a 
pipe  in  his  hand,  seated  with  our  backs  against  the  wall,  in  a 
room,  the  window  of  which  opened  into  a  small  square  planted 
with  flowers,  Dervish  Sefer,  as  the  acknowledged  chief  of  our 
society,  began  his  story  in  the  following  words  : — 

"  I  am  the  son  of  the  Luti  Basin",  or  head  Merry-Andrew  of 
the  Prince  of  Shiraz,  by  a  celebrated  courtezan  of  the  name  of 
Taous,  or  the  Peacock.  With  such  parents,  I  leave  you  to 
imagine  the  education  which  I  received.  My  principal  asso- 
ciates, during  ray  infancy,  were  the  monkeys  and  bears  that 
belonged  to  my  father  and  his  friends,  and,  perhaps,  it  is  to  the 
numerous  tricks  in  which  they  were  instructed,  and  to  the 
facility  with  which  they  learnt  them,  that  I  am  indebted  for  the 
talent  of  mimicry  that  has  been  of  so  much  use  to  me  through 
life.  At  fifteen  I  was  an  accomplished  luti.  I  could  eat  fire, 
spout  water,  and  perform  all  sorts  of  sleight  of  hand,  and  I 
should  very  probably  have  continued  to  prosper  in  this  profession, 
had  not  the  daughter  of  the  prince's  general  of  camel  artillery 
become  enamoured  of  me,  as  I  danced  on  the  tight-rope  before 
the  court  on  the  festival  of  the  new  year's  day.  A  young  camel 
driver  under  his  orders  had  a  sister  who  served  in  the  harem  of 
the  general :  he  was  my  most  intimate  friend,  and  his  sister  gavo 
6* 


66  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

bim  the  intelligence  of  the  effect  my  appearance  had  produced 
upon  her  mistress.  I  immediately  went  to  a  mirza  or  scribe, 
who  lived  in  a  small  shed  in  a  corner  of  the  bazaar,  and  requested 
of  him  to  write  a  love  letter  for  me,  with  as  much  red  ink  in  it 
as  possible,  and  crossed  and  re-crossed  with  all  the  complica- 
tion he  could  devise.  Nothing  could  be  better  than  this  com- 
position— for  at  the  very  outset  it  informed  my  mistress  that  I 
was  dead,  and  that  my  death  was  owing  to  the  fire  of  her  eyes, 
that  had  made  roast  meat  of  my  heart.  Notwithstanding  this 
assertion,  I  ventured  at  the  end  to  say  that  as  I  had  never  yet 
seen  her,  I  hoped  that  she  would  contrive  to  grant  me  an 
interview.  In  the  joy  of  my  heart  for  the  possession  of  such  a 
letter,  in  great  confidence  I  told  the  scribe  who  my  charmer 
was,  which  he  had  no  sooner  heard,  than  hopfcig  to  receive  a 
present  for  his  trouble,  forthwith  went  and  informed  the  general 
himself  of  the  fact.  That  the  son  of  the  Lvti  Basin  should 
dare  to  look  up  to  the  daughter  of  Zamhurekdd  Bashi  was  a 
crime  not  to  be  forgiven,  and  as  the  latter  had  influence  at 
court,  he  procured  an  order  for  my  instant  removal  from  Shiraz. 
My  father  did  not  wish  to  incur  the  prince's  displeasure,  and 
fearing,  from  my  growing  celebrity,  that  I  should  very  soon 
rival  him  in  his  own  profession,  he  rather  urged  than  delayed 
my  departure.  On  the  morning  when  I  was  about  quitting 
Shiraz,  and  was  bidding  adieu  to  my  friends  the  monkeys,  bears, 
and  other  animals  under  his  care,  he  said  to  me,  "  Sefer,  my 
son,  I  should  be  sorry  to  part  with  you ;  but  with  the  education 
which  you  have  received,  and  the  peculiar  advantages  which 
you  have  had  of  living  almost  entirely  in  the  society  of  me  and 
my  beasts,  it  is  impossible  but  that  you  will  succeed  in  life.  I 
now  endow  you  with  what  will  ensure  you  a  rapid  fortune.  I 
give  you  my  chief  ape,  the  most  acccomplished  of  his  species. 
Make  a  friend  of  him  for  your  own  sake,  and  love  him  for  mine  ; 
and  I  hope  in  time  that  you  will  reach  the  eminence  to  which 
your  father  has  attained."  Upon  this  he  placed  the  animal  upon 
my  shoulder,  and  thus  accompanied  I  left  the  paternal  roof. 

"  I  took  the  road  to  Ispahan,  in  no  very  agreeable  mood,  for 
I  scarcely  knew  whether  to  be  happy  or  sorry  for  this  change  in 
my  circumstances.  A  monkey  and  independence  were  certainly 
delightful  things  ;  but  to  leave  my  associates,  and  the  places 
that  were  endeared  to  me  from  my  infancy,  and,  above  all,  to 
abandon  that  fair  unknown,  whom  my  imagination  had  pictured 
to  me  as  lovely  as  S/n'reen  herself,  were  circumstances  which  ap- 
peared to  me  so  distressing,  that  by  the  time  I  had  reached  the 
hut  of  the  dervish,  at  the  Teng  Allah  Akhur,  my  mind  was  ex- 
cited into  a  violent  fit  of  despondency.     I  seated  myself  on  a 


HISTORY    OF   THE    DERVISHES.  Gt 

stone,  near  the  hut,  and,  with  my  monkey  by  my  side  I  gave 
vent  to  my  grief  in  a  flood  of  tears,  exclaiming  '  Ah  waki!  Ah 
wahiP  in  accents  the  most  piteous  that  can  be  imagined. 

"  These  brought  the  dervish  out,  and  when  he  had  heard  my 
tale,  he  invited  me  into  the  hut,  where  I  found  another  dervish, 
of  much  more  commanding  aspect  than  the  former.  He  was 
clad  nearly  in  the  same  manner  that  I  am  now,  (indeed,  the  cap 
I  wear  was  his  ;)  but  there  was  a  wildness  about  his  looks  that 
was  quite  imposing. 

"  At  the  sight  of  me  and  my  companion,  he  appeared  to  be 
struck  by  a  sudden  thought.  He  and  the  other  dervish  having 
talked  together  in  private,  he  proposed  to  me  that  I  should  ac- 
company him  to  Ispahan,  promised  that  he  would  be  kind  to 
me,  and,  if  I  behaved  well,  would  put  me  in  the  way  of  making 
my  fortune.  I  readily  agreed,  and  after  the  dervish  of  the  hiit 
had  given  us  a  pipe  to  smoke,  we  departed,  walking  at  a 
good  pace,  without  much  being  said  between  us  during  some 
time.  Dervish  Bideen,  for  that  was  his  name,  at  length  began 
to  question  me  very  closely  about  my  former  life,  and  hearing 
in  what  my  accomplishments  consisted,  seemed  to  be  well 
pleased.  He  then  descanted  upon  the  advantages  attending 
the  life  of  a  dervish,  proved  them  to  be  superior  to  the  low  pur- 
suits of  a  luti,  and  at  leugth  persuaded  me  to  embrace  his  pro- 
fession. He  told  me,  that  if  I  would  look  upon  him  as  my 
master,  he  would  teach  me  all  he  knew,  and  that,  he  assured 
me,  was  no  small  portion  of  knowledge,  inasmuch  as  he  was 
esteemed  the  most  perfect  dervish  in  Persia.  He  began  to  talk 
to  me  of  magic  and  astrology,  and  gave  me  various  receipts  for 
making  spells  and  charms,  to  serve  on  every  occasion  in  life ; 
by  the  sale  of  which  alone  I  should  be  able  to  make  my  fortune. 
The  tail  of  a  hare,  placed  under  the  pillow  of  a  child,  he  assured 
me  produces  sleep  ;  and  its  blood,  given  to  a  horse,  makes  him 
fleet  and  long-winded.  The  eye  and  the  knuckle  bones  of  a 
wolf,  attached  to  a  boy's  person,  gives  him  courage  ;  and  its 
fat,  rubbed  on  a  woman,  will  convert  her  husband's  love  into 
indifference  :  its  gall,  used  in  the  same  manner,  produces  fruit- 
fulness.  But  the  article  wliich  bore  the  greatest  price  in  the 
seraglios  was  the  kus  keftcw,  the  dried  skin  of  a  female  hyena ; 
which,  if  worn  about  the  person,  conciliated  the  affection  of  all 
to  the  wearer.  He  discoursed  long  upon  these  and  such  like 
subjects,  until  he  gradually  excited  so  much  interest  in  my 
heart,  by  thus  placing  my  fortune  apparently  in  full  view,  that 
at  length  he  ventured  to  make  a  proposal,  which  he  easily  judged 
would  be  disagreeable. 

"  '  Sefer,'  said  he  to  me,  '  you  know  not  the  treasure  you  pos- 


G8  THE    ADVENTURES    OE    HA.JJI    RABA. 

sess  in  that  ape — I  do  not  mean  as  he  stands  now  alive,  but 
dead.  If  he  were  dead,  I  could  extract  such  ingredients  from 
him  to  make  charms,  which  would  sell  for  their  weight  in  gold 
in  the  harem  of  the  Shah.  You  must  know  that  the  liver  of  an 
ape,  and  only  of  that  peculiar  species  which  you  possess,  is  sure 
to  bring  back  the  love  of  a  desired  object  to  the  person  who 
may  possess  it.  Then  the  skin  of  its  nose,  if  worn  round  the 
neck,  is  a  decisive  preventive  against  poison  ;  and  the  ashes  of 
the  animal  itself,  after  it  has  been  burnt  over  a  slow  lire,  will, 
if  taken  internally,  give  all  the  qualities  of  the  ape,  cunning, 
adroitness,  and  the  powers  of  imitation.'  He  then  proposed 
that  we  should  kill  the  beast. 

"  I  vras  certainly  alarmed  at  the  proposal.  I  had  been  brought 
lip  with  my  ape  ;  we  had  hitherto  gone  through  life  together  in 
prosperity  as  well  as  in  adversity ;  and  to  lose  him  in  this  bar- 
barous manner  was  more  than  I  could  bear.  I  was  about  to 
give  a  flat  refusal  to  the  dervish,  when  I  observed  that  his  coun- 
tenance, which  hitherto  had  been  all  smiles  and  good  humor, 
changed  to  downright  furiousness ;  and  fearing  that  he  would 
take  by  force  that  which  I  could  not  protect,  I,  with  all  the  re- 
luctance imaginable,  consented  to  the  execution  of  his  project. 
We  then  deviated  from  the  road ;  and  having  got  into  a  soli- 
tary glen,  we  gathered  together  some  dry  stubble  and  under- 
wood, made  a  fire,  striking  a  light  with  a  flint  and  steel,  which 
my  companion  carried  about  him.  He  took  my  poor  ape  into 
bis  hands,  and,  without  farther  ceremony,  put  it  to  death.  He 
then  dissected  it ;  and  having  taken  from  it  the  liver,  and  the 
skin  off  its  nose,  he  burnt  it  in  the  pile  we  had  made  ;  and  when 
all  was  over,  he  carefully  collected  the  ashes,  which  having 
packed  in  a  corner  of  his  handkerchief,  we  proceeded  on  our 
journey. 

"We  reached  Ispahan  in  due  time,  where  I  exchanged  such 
parts  of  my  dress  as  belonged  to  the  luti  for  the  garb  of  a  der- 
vish, and  then  we  proceeded  to  Tehran.  Here  my  master's  ap- 
pearance produced  great  effect;  for  no  sooner  was  it  known 
that  he  was  arrived,  than  all  sorts  of  people  flocked  to  consult 
him.  Mothers  wanted  protection  for  their  children  against  the 
evil  eye  ;  wives  a  spell  against  the  jealousy  of  their  husbands  : 
warriors  talismans  to  secure  them  from  harm  in  battle.  But  the 
ladies  of  the  king's  seraglio  were  his  principal  customers.  Their 
most  urgent  demand  was  some  powerful  charm  to  ensure  the 
attention  of  the  king.  The  collection  of  materials  for  this  pur- 
pose, which  the  Dervish  Bideen  had  made,  was  very  great.  He 
had  the  hairs  of  a  lynx,  the  back-bone  of  an  owl,  and  bears' 
grease  in  various  preparations.     To  one  of  the  ladies,  who, 


HISTORY    OF    THE    DERVISHES.  69 

owing  to  her  advanced  age,  was  more  pressing  than  the  others, 
he  sold  the  liver  of  my  monkey,  assuring  her,  that  as  soon  as 
she  appeared,  wearing  it  about  her  person,  his  majesty  would 
distinguish  her  from  her  rivals.  To  another,  who  complained 
that  she  was  never  in  favor,  and  frustrated  in  all  her  schemes  to 
attract  notice,  he  administered  a  decoction  of  the  monkey's 
ashes  ;  and  to  a  third,  who  wanted  a  charm  to  drive  away  wrin- 
kles, he  gave  an  ointment,  which,  if  properly  applied,  and  pro- 
vided she  did  not  langh,  or  otherwise  move  the  muscles  of  her 
face,  would  effectually  keep  them  smooth. 

"  I  was  initiated  into  all  the  mysteries,  and  frequently  was  a 
party  concerned  in  a  fraud,  whenever  my  master  was  put  to  the 
necessity  of  doing  someting  supernatural  to  support  his  credit, 
if  by  chance  his  spells  were  palpably  of  no  avail.  But  what- 
ever profit  arose  either  from  these  services,  or  from  the  spoils 
of  my  monkey,  he  alone  was  the  gainer,  for  I  never  touched  a 
ghauz  of  it. 

"  I  accompanied  the  Dervish  Bideen  into  various  countries, 
where  we  practised  our  art :  sometimes  we  were  adoi-ed  as 
saints,  and  at  other  times  stoned  for  vagrants.  As  our  journeys 
were  performed  on  foot,  I  had  opportunity  to  see  every  place 
in  the  greatest  detail.  We  traveled  from  Tehran  to  Constan- 
tinople, and  from  that  capital  to  Grand  Cairo,  through  Aleppo 
and  Damascus.  From  Cairo  we  showed  ourselves  at  Mecca 
and  Medina ;  and  taking  ship  at  Jedda,  landed  at  Surat,  in  the 
Guzerat,  whence  we  walked  to  Lahore  and  Cashmire. 

"At  this  last  place,  the  dervish,  according  to  custom,  endea- 
vored to  deceive  the  natives  ;  but  they  wei-e  too  enlightened  for 
us,  and  we  were  obliged  to  steal  away  in  great  disgrace  ;  and 
we  at  length  fixed  ourselves  at  Herat,  where  we  were  repaid  for 
our  former  want  of  success  by  the  credulity  of  the  AfTghans, 
who  were  good  enough  to  admit  all  that  we  chose  to  tell  them. 
But  here,  as  the  dervish  was  getting  up  a  plan  to  appear  as  a 
prophet,  and  when  our  machinery  for  performing  miracles  was 
nearly  completed,  he,  who  had  promised  eternal  youth  to  thou- 
sands, at  length  paid  the  debt  of  nature  himself.  He  shut  him- 
self up  in  a  small  hut,  situated  at  the  top  of  a  mountain  near 
Herat,  where  we  made  the  good  people  believe  that  he  was  liv- 
ing upon  no  other  food  than  that  which  the  Gins  and  Peris 
brought  to  him  ;  but  unfortunately  he  actually  died  of  a  surfeit, 
having  eat  more  of  a  roast  lamb  and  sweetmeats  than  his  nature 
could  support.  For  my  own  credit,  I  was  obliged  to  say,  that 
the  Gins,  jealous  of  us  mortals  for  possessing  the  society  of  so 
wonderful  a  person,  had  iuliated  him  with  celestial  food  to  such 
a  degree,  that,  leaving  no  room  for  his  soul,  it  had  been  com- 


TO  THE    ADVENTURES    OF    HAJJI    BABA. 

pletely  blown  out  of  bis  body,  and  carried  away  into  the  fifth 
heaven  by  a  strong  north-east  wind,  whicli  was  blowing  at  the 
time.  This  wind,  which  lasts  for  one  hundred  and  twenty  days 
during  the  summer  months,  and  without  v/hich  the  inhaljitants 
would  almost  die  with  heat,  I  endeavored  to  make  them  believe 
was  a  miracle  performed  by  the  dervish  in  their  favor,  as  a  part- 
ing legacy  to  them  and  their  descendants  for  ever.  The  old 
men,  indeed,  who  recollected  the  wind  ever  since  their  youth, 
were  incredulous  ;  but  their  testimony  bore  but  little  weight, 
compared  to  the  influence  which  we  had  acquired.  He  was 
buried  with  the  greatest  honors  ;  and  the  prince  of  Herat  him- 
self, EsheJc  Mirza,  lent  his  shoulder  to  bear  his  cofiBn  to  the 
grave.  A  mausoleum  was  erected  over  it  by  some  of  the  most 
pious  of  the  AfFghans,  and  it  has  ever  since  been  a  place  of 
pilgrimage  from  all  the  country  round. 

"I  remained  at  Herat  for  some  time  after  the  death  of  my 
companion,  in  order  to  enjoy  the  advantages  which  might  ac- 
crue to  me  from  being  the  friend  and  disciple  of  one  of  such 
high  reputation,  and  I  did  not  repent  of  my  resolution.  I  dis- 
posed of  my  spells  at  great  prices,  and  moreover  made  a  consider- 
able sum  by  selling  the  combings  of  my  deceased  friend's  beard, 
and  the  cuttings  of  his  nails,  which  I  assured  my  purchasers  I 
had  carefully  preserved  during  the  time  of  his  retirement  in  the 
mountains  ;  although  in  fact  they  were  chiefly  collected  from 
my  own  person.  When  I  had  sold  of  these  relics  enough  to 
make  several  respectable  beards,  and  a  proportionate  quantity 
of  nails,  I  felt  that  if  I  persisted  in  this  traffic,  notwithstanding 
the  inordinate  credulity  of  the  Affghans,  I  might  be  discovered 
for  a  cheat :  I  took  ray  departure,  and,  and  after  having  trav- 
eled into  various  parts  of  Persia,  I  at  length  fixed  myself  for 
some  time  among  the  Hezareh,  a  large  tribe,  living  for  the 
most  part  in  tents,  and  which  occupy  the  open  country  be- 
tween Caboul  and  Candahar.  My  success  among  them  was 
something  quite  beyond  my  expectations,  for  I  put  into  prac- 
tice what  the  Dervish  Bideen  had  planned  at  Herat,  and  actu- 
ally appeared  in  the  character  of  a  prophet." 

Here  the  Dervish  Sefer,  laying  his  hand  upon  the  shoulder 
of  the  dervish  who  sat  next  to  him,  said,  "  My  friend,  here, 
was  my  accomplice  on  that  occasion,  and  he  will  remember  how 
ingeniously  we  managed  to  make  the  Hezareh  believe  that  we 
possessed  a  caldron  which  was  always  full  of  boiled  rice — a 
miracle  which  even  the  most  incredulous  did  not  fail  to  believe, 
as  long  as  they  got  their  share  of  it.  In  short,  I  am  the  cele- 
brated Hazret  Ishau  himself ;  he  of  whom  you  have  lately  heard 
BO  much  in  Khorassan ;  and  although  my  sacred  character  was 


HISTORY    OF   THE    DERVISHES,  Tl 

not  proof  against  the  attacks  made  npon  it  by  the  arms  of  the 
Shah,  yet,  while  it  lasted,  I  collected  enough  from  the  zeal  and 
credulity  of  my  disciples  to  enable  me  to  pass  the  remainder  of 
my  life  in  comfort.  I  have  lived  at  Meshed  for  some  time  ; 
and  it  is  but  a  week  ago  that  wc  contrived  to  perform  the 
miracle  of  giving  sight  to  a  blind  girl ;  so  now  are  held  in  the 
highest  veneration." 

Here  the  Dervish  Sefer  ended  his  history,  and  then  called 
upon  his  next  neighbor  to  give  an  account  of  himself. 

This  was  the  dervish  who  had  been  his  accomplice  among  the 
Hezareh,  and  he  began  as  follows  : — 

"My  father  was  a  celebrated  man  of  the  law,  of  the  city  of 
Kom,  enjo3-ing  the  reputation  of  saying  his  prayers,  making  his 
ablutions,  and  keeping  his  fasts  more  regularly  than  any  man  in 
Persia  ;  in  short,  he  was  the  cream  of  Shiahs,  and  the  model 
of  Mussnlmen.  He  had  many  sons,  and  we  were  brought  up 
in  the  strictest  practice  of  the  external  parts  of  our  religion. 
The  rigor  and  severity  with  which  we  were  treated  were  com- 
bated on  our  part  by  cunning  and  dissimulation.  These  quali- 
ties gradually  fixed  themselves  in  our  character ;  and  without 
any  consideration  for  our  circumstances,  we  were  early  branded 
as  a  nest  of  hypocrites,  and  as  the  greatest  cheats  and  liars  of 
our  birth-place.  I,  in  particular,  was  so  notorious,  that  in  my 
own  defence,  I  became  a  dervish,  and  I  owe  the  reputation 
which  I  have  acquired  in  that  calling  to  the  following  fortunate 
circumstances. 

"  I  had  scarcely  arrived  at  Tehran,  and  had  taken  up  my 
quarters  opposite  to  a  druggist's  shop,  when  I  was  called  up  in 
a  great  hurry  by  an  old  woman,  who  informed  me  that  her  mas- 
ter, the  druggist,  had  just  been  taken  exceedingly  ill,  after  hav- 
ing eat  more  than  usual ;  that  the  medicine  which  he  had  taken 
had  not  performed  its  office ;  and  that  his  family  wished  to  try 
what  a  talisman  would  do  for  him  :  she  therefore  invited  me 
to  write  one  suited  to  his  case.  As  I  had  nether  paper,  pens, 
nor  ink,  I  insisted  on  going  into  his  anderun,  or  women's 
apartments,  and  writing  it  there,  to  which  she  consented.  I 
was  introduced  into  a  small  square  yard,  and  then  into  a 
room,  where  I  found  the  sick  man  extended  on  his  bed  on  the 
ground,  surrounded  by  as  many  women  as  the  place  could  hold, 
who  cried  aloud,  and  exclaimed,  '  tvalti,  tcahi,  in  the  name  of 
God,  he  dies,  he  dies !'  The  implements  of  medicine  were 
spread  about,  which  showed  that  every  thing  had  been  done 
either  to  kill  or  save  him.  A  large  basin,  which  had  contained 
the  prescription,  was  seen  on  the  shelf;  the  long  glass  tube, 
that  instrument  of  torture,  was  in  a  corner ;  and  among  other 


12  THE    ADVENTURES   OF    HAJJI   BABA. 

furniture,  the  doctor  himself  was  seen  seated,  quietly  smoking, 
and  who,  finding  that  all  human  means  had  failed,  had  had  re- 
course to  supernatural,  and  had  prescribed,  as  a  last  resource, 
the  talisman,  which  it  was  ray  fate  to  write.  A  new  dervish 
excited  new  hopes,  for  I  saw  that  I  produced  much  stir  as  soon 
as  I  entered  the  sick  room.  I  asked  for  paper  with  an  air  of 
authority,  as  if  I  felt  great  confidence  in  my  own  powers, 
(although,  in  fact,  I  had  never  written  a  talisman  before,)  and 
a  large  piece  was  brought  to  me,  which  seemed  to  have  been 
the  wrapper  to  some  drug  or  other.  Pen  and  ink  were  also 
given  to  me ;  and  then  calling  up  all  the  gravity  I  was  master 
of,  I  scrawled  the  paper  over  in  a  variety  of  odd  characters, 
which  here  and  there  contained  the  names  of  Allah,  Mohamed, 
All,  Hassan,  and  Hossein,  and  all  the  Imams,  placing  them  in 
different  anagrams,  and  substituting  here  and  there  figures  in- 
stead of  letters.  I  then  handed  it  over  with  great  ceremony, 
to  the  doctor,  who  calling  for  water  and  a  basin,  washed  the 
whole  of  the  writing  from  off  the  paper  into  the  basin,  whilst 
the  bystanders  offered  up  prayers  for  the  efficacy  of  the  pre- 
cious writing.  The  doctor  then  said,  '  In  the  name  of  the  pro- 
phet, let  the  patient  take  this  ;  and  if  fate  hath  decreed  that  he 
is  to  live,  then  the  sacred  names  which  he  will  now  swallow 
will  restore  him  :  but  if  not,  neither  my  skill,  nor  that  of  any 
other  man,  can  ever  be  of  the  least  avail.' 

"  The  draught  was  administered,  and,  for  some  time  after, 
the  eyes  of  all  around  were  fixed  upon  the  wretched  man's 
face,  as  if  they  expected  that  a  resuscitation  would  instantly 
ensue.  He  remained  for  some  time  without  showing  any  symp- 
tom of  life  ;  when,  to  the  astonishment  of  all,  not  excepting 
myself  and  the  doctor,  he  groaned,  opened  his  eyes,  raised  his 
head  on  his  arm,  and  then  called  for  a  basin,  and  at  length 
vomited  in  such  a  manner  as  would  have  done  credit  to  the 
prescription  of  Abu  Avicenna  himself     In  short,  he  recovered. 

"  In  my  own  mind,  I  immediately  attributed  the  happy 
change  to  the  drug  which  had  been  wrapped  in  the  paper,  and 
which,  with  the  nausea  of  the  ink,  had  produced  the  effect  just 
described  ;  but  I  took  care  to  let  the  bystanders  know  that  the 
cure  was  entirely  owing  to  the  interference,  and  to  the  hand- 
writing of  one  of  my  sanctity;  and  that  but  for  me  he  would 
have  died. 

"  The  doctor,  on  the  other  hand,  took  all  the  merit  of 
the  case  to  himself;  for  as  soon  as  his  patient  opened  his 
eyes,  he  exclaimed,  '  Did  I  not  tell  you  so  ?'  and  in  propor- 
tion as  the  draught  operated,  he  went  on  exulting  thus  : 
'  There,  there,  see  the  efficacy  of  my  prescription  !     If  it  had 


HISTORY    OF    THE    DERVISHES.  Y3 

not  been  for  me,  you  would  have  seen  the  druggist  dead  before 
you.' " 

"  I,  however,  would  not  allow  him  to  proceed,  and  said  :  '  If 
you  are  a  doctor,  why  did  you  not  cure  him  without  calling  for 
me  ?  Keep  to  your  blisters  and  to  your  bleedings,  and  do  not 
interfere  with  that  which  doth  not  belong  to  you.' " 

"  He  answered, '  Mr.  Dervish,  I  make  no  doubt  that  you  can 
write  a  very  good  talisman,  and  also  can  get  a  very  good  price 
for  it ;  but  every  one  knows  who  and  what  dervishes  are  ;  and 
if  their  talismans  are  ever  of  use,  it  is  not  their  sanctity  which 
makes  them  so.' " 

"  Whose  dog  are  you,"  exclaimed  I,  in  return,  "  to  talk  to  me 
after  this  manner  ?  I,  who  am  a  servant  of  the  prophet.  As 
for  you  doctors,  your  ignorance  is  proverbial :  you  hide  it  by 
laying  all  to  fate  :  if  by  chance  your  patient  recovers,  then  you 
take  all  the  credit  of  the  cure  to  yourselves  ;  should  he  die,  you 
say,  God  hath  decreed  thus ;  what  can  the  eftorts  of  man  avail  ? 
Go  to,  go  to  ;  when  you  have  nearly  killed  your  next  patient, 
and  then  know  not  what  more  to  ordain,  send  for  me  again,  and 
I  will  cover  your  impudent  ignorance  by  curing  him  as  I  have 
just  done  the  druggist." 

"  '  By  my  head,  and  by  your  death,'  returned  the  doctor,  '  I 
am  not  a  man  to  hear  this  from  any  one,  much  less  from  a  dog 
of  a  dervish  ;'  and  immediately  he  got  up,  and  approached  me 
in  a  threatening  attitude,  making  use  of  every  epithet  of  abuse 
that  he  could  think  of. 

"  I  received  him  with  suitable  expressions  of  contempt,  and 
we  very  soon  came  to  blows  :  he  fastened  upon  my  hair,  and 
I  upon  his  beard,  with  such  violence,  that  we  plucked  out 
Avhole  handfuls  from  each  other :  we  bit  and  spat,  and  fought 
with  "such  fury,  heedless  of  the  sick  man  and  the  cries  of  the 
women,  that  the  uproar  became  very  great,  and  perhaps  would 
have  terminated  in  something  serious, if  one  of  the  women  had 
not  run  in  to  us,  in  great  agitation,  assuring  us  that  the  Da- 
rogaWs  officers  (policemen)  were  then  knocking  at  the  door  of 
the  house,  and  inquiring  whence  proceeded  all  the  disturb- 
ance. 

"  This  parted  us  ;  and  then  I  was  happy  to  find  that  the  by- 
standers were  in  my  favor,  for  they  expressed  their  contempt 
of  the  skill  of  the  pliysician,  whose  only  object  was  to  obtain 
money  from  them  without  doing  his  patients  any  good,  whilst 
they  looked  upon  me  in  the  light  of  a  divine  ])erson,  who  in 
my  handwriting  alone  possessed  the  power  of  curing  all  manner 
of  disease. 

"  The  doctor,  seeing  how  ill  matters  were  going  for  him, 
•7 


14  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA, 

stole  away  with  the  best  face  he  could ;  but  before  he  left  the 
room,  he  stooped  down,  and  collecting  as  many  of  the  hairs  of 
his  beard,  which  I  had  plucked  from  him,  as  he  could  find,  to 
which  he  added  some  of  my  own  hair,  he  brandished  them  in 
my  face,  saying,  '  We  shall  see  on  whose  side  the  laugh  will  be 
when  you  are  brought  before  the  Cadi  to-morrow ;  for  beards 
are  worth  a  ducat  per  hair  in  Tehran,  and  I  doubt  with  all 
your  talismans,  whether  you  can  buy  these  that  I  hold  in  my 
hand.' 

"  It  was  evident,  that  when  his  anger  was  cooled,  out  of  re- 
gard to  his  own  reputation,  he  would  not  put  his  threat  into 
execution  ;  so  the  fear  of  being  dragged  before  the  justice  gave 
me  no  uneasiness,  and  I  therefore  only  considered  how  to  make 
the  most  of  the  fortunate  circumstance  which  had  just  taken 
place.  The  report  that  the  druggist  (who  was  the  first  in 
Tehran)  had  been  brought  to  life,  when  on  the  point  of  death, 
by  a  dervish  who  was  just  arrived,  was  soon  spread  about,  and 
I  became  the  object  of  general  concern.  From  morning  to 
night  I  was  taken  up  in  writing  talismans,  for  which  I  made 
my  customers  pay  according  to  their  means,  and  in  a  short 
time  I  found  myself  the  possessor  of  some  hundreds  of  piastres. 
But  unfortunately  for  me,  I  did  not  meet  with  a  dying  druggist 
and  a  piece  of  his  paper  every  day  ;  and  feeling  myself  reduced 
to  live  upon  the  reputation  of  this  one  miracle,  which  I  per- 
ceived to  my  sorrow  daily  diminished,  I  made  a  virtue  of  neces- 
sity, and  determining  to  make  the  tour  of  Persia,  I  immediately 
left  Tehran.  To  whichsoever  city  I  bent  my  steps,  I  managed 
matters  so  adroitly,  that  I  made  my  reputation  precede  my 
arrival  there.  The  druggist  had  given  me  an  attestation, 
under  his  seal,  that  he  had  been  restored  to  life  by  virtue  of  a 
talisman  written  by  my  hand,  and  this  I  exhibited  wherever  I 
went,  to  corroborate  the  reports  which  had  been  circulated  in 
my  favor.  I  am  now  living  upon  this  reputation :  it  supports 
me  very  tolerably  for  the  present,  but  whenever  I  find  that  it 
begins  to  fail,  I  shall  proceed  elsewhere."  The  dervish  here 
ended  his  history. 

When  the  third  dervish  came  to  his  turn  to  speak,  he  said : 
"  My  tale  is  but  short,  although  story-telling  is  my  profession. 
I  am  the  sou  of  a  schoolmaster,  who,  perceiving  that  I  was 
endowed  with  a  very  retentive  memory,  made  me  read  and 
repeat  to  him  most  of  the  histories  with  which  our  language 
abounds ;  and  when  he  found  that  he  had  furnished  my  mind 
with  a  sufficient  assortment,  he  turned  me  out  into  the  world 
under  the  garb  of  a  dervish,  to  relate  them  in  public  to  such 
audiences  as  my  talents  might  gather  round  me. 


FRAUD  PCNISHED— FRESH  PLANS.  75 

"  My  first  essays  wei'e  anytbin  j  but  successful.  My  auditors 
heard  my  stories,  aud  then  walked  away  without  leaving  any' 
reward  for  ray  pains.  Little  by  little  I  acquired  experience. 
Instead  of  being  carried  away,  as  I  had  at  first  permitted  myself 
to  be,  by  the  interest  of  the  story,  I  made  a  pause  when  the 
catastrophe  drew  near,  and  then,  looking  around  me,  said, 
'All  ye  that  are  present,  if  ye  will  be  liberal  towards  me,  I  will 
tell  ye  what  follows;'  and  I  seldom  failed  of  collecting  a  good 
handful  of  copper  dinars.  For  instance,  in  the  story  of  the 
Prince  of  Khatai  and  the  Princess  of  Samarcand,  when  the 
Ogre  Hezar  Mun  seizes  the  prince,  and  is  about  to  devour 
him;  when  he  is  suspended  in  the  ogre's  mouth,  between  his 
upper  and  lower  jaw ;  when  the  princess,  all  dishevelled  and 
forlorn,  is  on  her  knees  praying  that  he  may  be  spared  ; 
when  the  attendants  couch  their  lances,  and  are  in  dismay ; 
when  the  horses  start  back  in  fright ;  when  the  thunder  rolls, 
and  the  ogre  growls  ;  then  I  stop,  and  say,  '  Xow,  my  noble 
hearers,  open  your  purses,  and  ye  shall  hear  in  how  miraculous 
a  manner  the  Prince  of  Khatai  cut  the  ogre's  head  off!'  By 
such  arts,  I  manage  to  extract  a  subsistence  from  the  curiosity 
of  men  ;  an.d  when  my  stock  of  stories  is  exhausted  in  one 
place,  I  leave  it,  travel  to  another,  and  there  renew  my  labors." 


CHAPTER  XII. 

FR.\UD    PUXISHED FRESH    PLAN'S. 

The  dervishes  having  finished  their  narratives,  I  thanked 
them  for  the  entertainment  and  instruction  which  they  had 
afforded  me,  and  I  forthwith  resolved  to  learn  as  much  from 
them  as  possible,  in  order  to  become  a  dervish  mj'self,  in  case  I 
ghould  be  obliged  to  abandon  my  present  business.  Dervish 
Sefer  instructed  me  iu  the  numerous  tricks  which  he  practiced, 
to  impose  himself  upon  the  world  as  a  person  of  great  sanctity  ; 
I  learned  the  art  of  writing  talismans  from  the  second  ;  and 
the  story-teller  tanght  me  some  of  the  tales  with  which  his  head 
was  stored,  lent  me  his  books,  and  gave  me  general  rules  how- 
to  lead  on  the  curiosity  of  an  audience,  until  their  money  should 
insensibly  be  enticed  from  their  pockets. 

In  the  meanwhile,  I  continued  to  sell  my  tobacco  and  my 
pipes ;    but  owing  to  my  intimacy  with  the  dervishes,  who 


76  THE    ADVENTURES    OF    HAJJI    BABA. 

smoked  away  all  my  profits,  I  was  obliged  to  adulterate  the 
•tobacco  of  my  other  customers  considerably  more  than  usual ; 
so  that  in  fact  they  enjoyed  little  else  than  the  fumes  of  dung, 
straw,  and  decayed  leaves. 

One  evening,  when  it  was  dusk,  and  about  the  time  of  closing 
the  bazaars,  an  old  woman  in  rags,  apparently  bent  double  with 
age,  stopped  me,  and  requested  me  to  dress  a  pipe  for  her  to 
smoke.  She  was  closly  veiled,  and  scarcely  uttered  a  word  be- 
yond her  want.  1  filled  her  one  of  my  very  worst  mixtures  : 
she  put  it  to  her  mouth  ;  and  at  her  spitting,  coughing,  and 
exclamations,  half  a  dozen  stout  fellows,  with  long  twigs  in 
their  hands,  immediately  came  up,  seized  me,  and  threw  me  on 
my  back.  The  supposed  old  woman  then  cast  off  her  veil,  and 
I  beheld  the  Moldesih'^'  in  person. 

"At  length,  wretch  of  an  hpaliani V  said  he,"  I  have 
caught  you— you,  that  have  so  long  been  poisoning  the  people 
of  Meshed  with  your  abominable  mixtures.  You  shall  receive 
as  many  strokes  on  your  feet  as  you  have  received  dinars  for 
your  pipes.  Bring  the  felek,^''\  said  he,  to  his  officers,  "  and  lay 
on  till  his  nails  drop  off." 

My  feet  were  instantly  inserted  into  the  dreaded  noose,  and 
the  blows  fell  upon  them  so  thick,  that  I  soon  saw  the  images 
of  ten  thousand  Mohtesibs,  intermixed  with  ten  thousand  old 
■women,  dancing  before  my  eyes,  apparently  enjoying  my  tor- 
ture, and  laughing  at  my  writhing  and  contortions.  I  im- 
plored the  mercy  of  my  tormentor  by  the  souls  of  his  father, 
mother,  and  grandfather — by  his  own  head — by  that  of  his 
child— and  by  that  of  his  prince — by  the  Prophet — by  Ali— 
and  by  all  the  Imams.  I  cursed  tobacco.  I  renounced  smok- 
ing. I  appealed  to  the  feelings  of  the  surrounding  spectators, 
to  my  friends  the  three  dervishes,  who  stood  there  stirring 
neither  limb  nor  muscle  for  me;  in  short,  I  bawled,  cried, 
entreated,  until  I  entirely  lost  all  sensation,  and  all  recollection. 
At  length,  when  I  came  to  myself,  I  found  that  I  was  seated 
with  my  head  against  the  wall  on  the  side  of  the  road,  sur- 
rounded by  a  crowd  gaping  at  ray  miserable  situation.  No 
one  seemed  to  pity  me.  My  pipes,  my  jug,  and  everything 
that  I  possessed,  had  been  taken  from  me,  and  I  was  left  to 
crawl  to  my  home  as  well  as  I  was  able.     Luckily  it  was  not 

*  The  3Io7ifesib  is  an  oflSoer  who  perambulates  the  city,  and  e.xamines 
weights  and  measures,  and  the  qualities  of  provisions. 

t  The  felek  i.s  a  long  polo,  with  a  uooso  in  the  middle,  through  which  the 
feet  of  him  who  is  to  be  bastinadoed  are  passed,  whilst  its  extremities  are  held 
up  by  two  men,  for  the  two  others,  who  strike. 


FRAUD    PDNISHEn FRESH    PLANS.  17 

far  off,  and  I  reached  it  on  my  bands  and  knees,  making  the 
most  piteous  moans  imaginable. 

After  I  had  remained  a  day  in  hoiTid  torment,  with  my  feet 
swelled  into  a  misshapen  mass  of  flesh  and  gore,  I  received  a 
visit  from  one  of  the  dervishes,  who  ventured  to  approach  me, 
fearful  as  he  told  me,  of  being  taken  up  as  my  accomplice,  in 
case  he  had  come  sooner  to  my  help.  He  had,  in  his  early 
career,  undergone  a  similar  beating  himself,  and,  therefore, 
knew  what  remedies  to  apply  to  my  limbs,  which,  in  a  short 
time  restored  them  to  their  former  state. 

During  my  confinement,  I  had  time  to  reflect  upon  my  situa- 
tion. I  determined  to  leave  Meshed,  for  I  felt  that  I  had 
entered  it  at  an  unlupky  hour.  Once  my  back  had  been 
sprained,  and  once  I  had  been  bastinadoed.  I  had  managed 
to  collect  a  small  sum  of  money,  which  I  kept  carefully  buried 
in  a  corner  near  my  room ;  and  with  this  I  intended  to  make 
my  way  to  Tehran  by  the  the  very  first  caravan  that  should  be 
on  its  departure.  I  communicated  my  plan  to  the  dervishes, 
who  applauded  it ;  and,  moreover,  the  Dervish  Sefer  offered  to 
accompany  me;  "for,"  said  he,  "  I  have  been  warned  that  the 
priesthood  of  Meshed  are  jealous  of  my  increasing  influence, 
and  that  they  are  laying  a  plot  for  my  ruin  ;  and,  as  it  is 
impossible  to  withstand  their  power,  I  will  try  my  fortunes  else- 
where." 

It  was  agreed  that  I  should  put  on  the  dress  of  a  dervish  ; 
and  having  made  my  purchases,  in  the  bazaar,  of  a  cap,  some 
beads,  and  a  goat's  skin,  which  I  slung  across  my  shoulder,  I 
was  ready  to  begin  my  journey  at  a  moment's  warning. 

We  became  so  impatient  to  depart,  that  we  had  almost  made 
up  our  minds  to  set  off  without  any  other  companions,  and  trust 
to  our  good  fortune  to  find  our  road,  and  escape  the  dangers 
of  it ;  but  we  determined  to  take  a  fall  out  of  Saadi,  before 
we  came  to  a  resolution.  Dervish  Sefer,  after  making  the  usual 
prayer,  opened  the  book,  and  read  :  "  It  is  contrary  to  reason, 
and  to  the  advice  of  the  wise,  to  take  medicine  without  con- 
fidence, or  to  travel  an  unknown  road  without  accompanying 
the  caravan."  This  extraordinary  warning  settled  our  iniuds, 
and  we  determined  to  be  guided  by  it. 

On  making  inquiries  about  the  departure  of  caravans  for 
Tehran,  I  was  delighted  to  meet  my  friend  AW  Katir,  the  mule- 
teer, who  was  just  arrived  at  Meshed,  and  who  was  then  making 
a  bargain  with  a  merchant  to  take  his  merchandise,  consisting  of 
the  lambs'  skins  of  Bokedhara,  to  the  capital.  As  soon  as  he 
saw  me,  he  uttered  an  exclamation  of  delight,  and  immediately 
lighted  his  water-pipe,  which  he  invited  me  to  smoke  with  him. 
7* 


tS  THE    ADVENTURES    OF    IIAJJI    EABA. 

I  related  all  my  adventures  since  we  last  parted,  and  he  gave 
me  an  account  of  his.  Having  left  Meshed  with  a  caravan  for 
Ispahan,  with  his  mules  loaded  partly  with  bars  of  silver,  and 
partly  with  lambs'  skins ;  and  having  undergone  great  fears 
on  account  of  the  Turcomans — he  reached  his  destination  in 
safety.  That  city  was  still  agitated  with  the  recollections  of  the 
late  attack  of  the  caravanserai,  of  which  I  have  given  an 
account;  and  the  general  belief  was,  that  the  invaders  had 
made  their  approach  in  a  body,  consisting  of  more  than  a 
thousand  men  ;  that  they  had  been  received  with  great  bravery, 
and  that  one  Kerbelai  Hassan,  a  barber,  had,  with  his  own 
hand,  wounded  one  of  the  chiefs  so  severely,  that  he  had 
escaped  with  the  greatest  difficulty. 

I  had  always  kept  this  part  of  my  adventures  secret  from 
everybody ;  so  I  hid  any  emotion  that  might  appear  on  my 
face  from  the  muleteer,  by  puffing  out  a  sufficient  volume  of 
smoke  in  his  face. 

From  Ispahan  he  carried  cotton  stuffs,  tobacco,  and  copper 
ware  to  Yezd,  where  he  remained  some  time,  until  a  caravan 
was  collected  for  Meshed,  when  he  loaded  his  mules  with  the 
manufactures  of  the  former  city.  Ali  Katir  agreed  that  Der- 
vish Sefer  and  I  should  return  with  him  to  Tehran,  and  that 
whenever  we  were  tired  with  walking,  he  would  willingly  assist 
us,  by  permitting  us  to  mount  his  mules. 


CHAPTER    XIII. 

BECOMES  A  DERVISH A  .GOOD  STORY. 

When  I  had  cleared  the  gate  which  leads  out  of  Meshed  to 
Tehran,  I  shook  the  collar  of  my  coat,  and  exclaimed  to  myself: 
"May  Heaven  send  thee  misfortunes!"  forbad  I  been  heard 
by  any  one  of  the  pilgrims,  who  were  now  on  their  return — it 
very  probably  would  have  gone  ill  with  me.  My  companion. 
Dervish  Sefer,  whom  I  knew  to  be  of  my  mind,  entered  into  my 
feelings,  and  we  both  vented  our  spleen  against  the  inhabitants 
of  that  place ;  I  for  the  drubbings  which  had  been  inflicted 
upon  me,  he  for  the  persecutions  he  had  undergone  from  the 
MoUahs. 

"As  for  you,  my  friend,"  said  he  to  me,  "you  are  young; 
you  have  much  to  sufler  before  you  gain  the  experience  neces- 


BECOMES    A    DERVISH — A    GOOD    STORY.  *ld 

sary  to  carry  you  through  life  :  do  not  repine  at  the  first  beat- 
ing ;  it  will  probaljly  save  you  many  more,  and  will  teach  you 
another  time  to  discover  a  Ilohtesib,  although  hid  under  a 
woman's  veil :  but  (taking  hold  of  his  beard)  for  a  man  of  my 
age,  one  who  has  seen  so  much  of  the  world,  to  be  obliged  to 
set  out  upon  his  travels  again,  is  truly  a  great  misfortune." 

"But  it  would  have  been  easy  for  you,"  said  I,  "to  remain 
at  Meshed,  if  you  had  chosen  it :  had  you  been  regular  in  your 
prayers  and  ablutions,  you  might  have  bid  defiance  to  the  Mol- 
lahs." 

"  That  is  true  enough,"  said  the  Dervish ;  "  but  the  fact  is, 
that  the  festival  of  the  Ramazan  is  now  close  at  hand,  when  I 
should  have  been  more  closely  watched  than  ever  by  them ;  and 
as  I  can  not  and  will  not  fast,  (smoking  being  as  necessary  to 
me  as  air,  and  wine  as  daily  bread)  I  have  thought  it  better  to 
make  a  journey  during  that  time,  for  the  sake  of  the  indulgence 
Avhich  is  permitted  to  travelers.  I  might  perhaps  have  deceived 
them,  as  I  have  frequently  done  before,  by  eating  and  smoking 
in  secret ;  but  one  so  notorious  as  I,  who  lives  l)y  the  supposed 
sanctity  of  his  character,  being  narrowly  watched,  cannot  take 
such  liberties." 

We  arrived  at  Semnan  without  the  occurrence  of  anything 
remarkable,  excepting,  that  a  day  or  two  before  we  reached  it, 
when  I  was  helping  my  friend,  Ali  Katir,  to  load  one  of  his 
mules,  I  sprained  my  back  again  in  its  old  place  :  the  pain  was 
so  great  that  it  became  impossible  for  me  to  proceed  with  the 
caravan,  and  I  determined  to  remain  where  I  was  until  I  had 
been  relieved ;  particularly,  as  all  danger  from  the  Turcomans 
having  passed,  it  was  needless  to  make  myself  any  longer  a 
dependent  upon  a  caravan.  Dervish  Sefer,  who  was  anxious 
to  get  to  the  wine  and  pleasures  of  the  capital,  continued  his 
journey. 

I  took  up  my  abode  iu  a  tomb  on  the  skirts  of  the  town ; 
and  having  spread  my  goat's  skin  in  a  corner  of  it,  I  proclaimed 
my  arrival,  according  to  the  custom  adopted  by  traveling  der- 
vishes, by  blowing  my  horn,  and  making  my  exclamations  of 
liak,  Jill,  Allah  Akbar,  in  a  most  sonorous  and  audible  man- 
ner. I  had  allowed  my  person  to  acquire  a  wild  and  extrava- 
gant appearance,  and  flattered  myself  that  I  did  credit  to  the 
instructions  which  had  been  given  me  in  the  arts  of  deception. 

I  was  visited  by  several  women,  for  whom  I  wrote  talismans, 
and  they  repaid  me  by  small  presents  of  fruit,  milk,  honey,  and 
other  trifles.  My  back  became  so  painful,  that  I  was  obliged 
to  inquire  if  no  one  at  Semnan  could  allord  me  relief.  The 
barber  and  the  farrier  were  the  only  two  sujiposed  to  possess 


80  THE    ADVF.NTURKS    OF    II.AJJI    EABA. 

auy  medical  talents ;  the  one  skilled  in  bleediiicf,  drawing  teetb, 
and  setting  a  limb  ;  the  other,  from  his  knowledge  in  the  dis- 
eases of  horses,  being  often  consulted  in  human  ailments.  There 
was  also  a  gis  sejid,  or  gray  wig,  an  old  woman  of  a  hag-like 
and  decrepit  appearance,  who  was  looked  up  to  as  an  oracle  in 
all  cases  where  the  knowledge  of  the  barber  and  farrier  was  of 
no  avail,  and  who  had  besides  many  nostrums  and  recipes  for 
all  sorts  of  aches.  Each  came  to  me  in  succession  :  all  were 
agreed  that  my  disorder  proceeded  from  cold  ;  and  as  fire  was 
the  hottest  thing  in  opposition  to  cold  that  they  knew  of,  they 
as  unanimously  agreed  that  the  actual  cautery  should  immedi- 
ately be  applied  to  the  part ;  and  the  farrier,  on  account  of  his 
dealings  in  hot  and  cold  iron,  was  appointed  operator.  He 
accordingly  brought  a  pan  of  charcoal,  a  pair  of  bellows,  and 
some  small  skewers  ;  and  seating  himself  in  a  corner,  made  his 
fire,  and  heated  his  skewers ;  when  they  v/ere  red  hot,  I  was 
placed  on  the  ground  flat  on  my  face,  and  then,  with  great 
solemnity,  my  back  was  seared  with  the  burning  iron,  whilst  all 
the  bystanders,  at  every  touch,  exclaimed,  with  great  earnest- 
ness, "  Khoda  shefa  inide/ied,^^  God  gives  relief.  My  medical 
attendants,  in  their  united  wisdom,  out  of  compliment  to  the 
prophet  and  the  tv/elve  Imans,  marked  me  in  thirteen  different 
places  ;  and  although,  when  I  had  endured  half  the  operation, 
I  began  to  cry  out  most  lustily  with  the  pain,  still  I  was  not 
left  off  until  the  whole  was  gone  through.  It  was  long  before 
the  wounds  which  they  had  inflicted  were  cured :  and  as 
they  never  would  heal  unless  I  was  kept  in  perfect  quiet,  I 
confined  myself  to  my  cell  for  a  considerable  time ;  at  the  end 
of  which  my  sprain  had  entirely  taken  its  le-ave,  and  strength 
was  restored  to  my  whole  frame.  Of  .course,  my  recovery  was 
attributed  to  the  thirteen  worthies,  who  had  presided  over  the 
operation,  and  all  the  town  became  more  than  ever  persuaded 
of  the  efficacy  of  hot  iron  :  but  I  could  not  but  think  that  long 
repose  had  been  my  best  doctor — an  opinion  which  I  took  care 
to  keep  to  myself;  for  I  had  no  objection  that  the  world  should 
believe  that  I  was  a  protege  of  so  many  holy  personages. 

I  .now  determined  to  pursue  my  journey  to  Tehran ;  but 
before  I  ventured  to  produce  myself  as  a  dervish  upon  that 
stage,  I  resolved  to  try  my  talent  in  relating  a  story  before  a 
Semnan  audience.  Accordingly,  I  went  to  a  small  open  space, 
that  is  situated  near  the  entrance  of  the  bazaars,  where  most  of 
the  idlers  of  the  town  flock  about  noon ;  and  making  the  sort 
of  exclamations  usual  upon  such  occasions,  I  soon  collected  a 
crowd,  who  settled  themselves  on  the  ground,  round  the  place 
which  I  had  fixed  upon  for  my  theatre.    A  short  story,  touching 


BECOMES    A    DERVISH A    GOOD    STORY.  81 

a  barber  at  Bagdad  (which  I  had  heard  when  I  was  myself  ia 
profession)  hickily  came  into  my  memory  ;  and,  standing  in  the 
middle  of  a  circle  of  louts,  with  uplifted  eyes  and  open  mouths, 
I  made  my  debut  in  the  following  words  : — 

"  In  the  reign  of  the  Caliph  Harouu  al  Rashid,  of  happy 
memory,  lived  in  the  city  of  Bagdad  a  celebrated  barber,  of  the 
name  of  Ali  Sakal.  He  was  so  famous  for  a  steady  hand  and 
dexterity  in  his  profession,  that  he  could  shave  a  head  and  trim 
a  beard  and  whiskers  with  his  eyes  blindfolded,  without  once 
drawing  blood.  There  was  not  a  man  of  any  fashion  at  Bag- 
dad who  did  not  employ  him ;  and  such  a  run  of  business  had 
he,  that  at  length  he  became  proud  and  insolent,  and  would 
scarcely  ever  touch  a  head,  whose  master  was  not  at  least  a 
Beg  or  an  Aga.  Wood  for  fuel  was  always  scarce  and  dear  at 
Bagdad  ;  and  as  his  shop  consumed  a  great  deal,  the  woodcut- 
ters brought  their  loads  to  him  in  preference,  almost  sure  of 
meeting  with  a  ready  sale.  It  happened  one  day  that  a  poor 
woodcutter,  new  in  his  profession,  and  ignorant  of  the  character 
of  Ali  Sakal,  went  to  his  shop,  and  offered  him  for  sale  a  load 
of  wood,  which  he  had  just  brought  from  a  considerable  distance 
in  the  country,  on  his  ass  :  Ali  immediately  offered  him  a  price, 
making  use  of  these  words,  ^for  all  the  wood  that  rvas  upon  the 
ass.''  The  woodcutter  agreed,  unloaded  his  beast,  and  asked 
for  the  money.  'You  have  not  given  me  all  the  wood  yet,' 
said  the  barber  ;  '  I  must  have  the  pack-saddle  (which  is  chiefly 
made  of  wood)  into  the  bargain:  that  was  our  agreement.' 
'  How  !'  said  the  other,  in  great  amazement ;  '  who  ever  heard 
of  such  a  bargain  ?  It  is  impossil)le.'  In  short,  after  many 
words  and  much  altercation,  the  overbearing  barber  seized  the 
pack-saddle,  wood  and  all,  and  sent  away  the  poor  peasant  in 
great  distress.  He  immediately  ran  to  the  Cadi,  and  stated  his 
griefs  ;  the  Cadi  was  one  of  the  barber's  customers,  and  refused 
to  hear  the  case.  The  woodcutter  applied  to  a  higher  judge  : 
he  also  patronised  Ali  Sakal,  and  made  light  of  the  complaint. 
The  poor  man  then  appealed  to  the  Mufti  himself,  who,  having 
pondered  over  the  question,  whilst  he  si})ped  half  a  dozen  cups 
of  coffee,  and  smoked  as  many  pipes,  at  length  settled  that  it 
was  too  difficult  a  case  for  him  to  decide,  no  provision  being 
made  for  it  in  the  Koran,  and  therefore  he  must  put  up  with 
his  loss.  The  woodcutter  was  not  disheartened  ;  but  forthwith 
got  a  scribe  to  write  a  petition  to  the  Caliph  in  person,  which 
he  duly  presented  on  Friday,  the  day  when  he  went  in  state  to 
the  mosque.  The  Caliph's  punctuality  in  reading  petitions 
is  well  known,  and  it  was  not  long  before  the  woodcutter  was 
called  to  his  presence.     When  he  had  approached  the  Caliph, 


8^  THE    ADVENTURES    OF    HAJJI    BABA. 

he  kneeled  and  kissed  the  ground,  and  then,  ])lacnig  his  arms 
straight  l^efore  him,  his  hands  covered  with  the  sleeves  of  his 
cloak,  and  his  feet  close-  together,  he  awaited  the  decision  of 
his  case.  'Friend,'  said  the  Caliph,  'the  barber  has  words  on 
his  side — you  have  equity  on  yours.  The  law  must  be  defined 
by  words,  and  agreements  must  be  made  by  words  :  the  former 
must  have  its  course,  or  it  is  nothing ;  and  agreements  must  be 
kept,  or  there  would  be  no  faith  between  man  and  man  ;  there- 
fore the  barber  must  keep  all  his  wood ;  but' — Then  calling 
the  woodcutter  to  him,  the  Caliph  whispered  something  in  his 
ear,  which  none  but  he  could  hear,  aud  then  sent  him  away 
quite  satisfied. 

"Here  then  I  made  a  pause  in  my  narrative,  and  said  (whilst 
I  extended  a  small  tin  cup  which  I  held  in  my  hand);  'Now, 
my  noble  audience,  if  you  will  give  me  something,  I  will  tell 
you  what  the  Caliph  said  to  the  woodcutter.'  I  had  excited 
great  curiosity,  and  there  was  scarcely  one  of  my  hearers  who 
did  not  give  me  a  piece  of  money. 

"  'Well,  then,'  said  I,  'the  Caliph  whispered  to  the  woodcut- 
ter what  he  was  to  do,  in  order  to  get  satisfaction  from  the 
barber,  and  what  that  was  I  will  now  relate.  The  woodcutter 
having  made  his  obeisances,  returned  to  his  ass,  which  was  tied 
without,  took  it  by  the  halter,  and  proceeded  to  his  home.  A 
few  days  after  he  applied  to  the  barber,  as  if  nothing  had  hap- 
pened between  them,  requesting  that  he,  and  a  companion  of 
his  from  the  country  might  enjoy  the  dexterity  of  his  hand ;  and 
the  price  at  which  both  operations  were  to  be  performed  was 
settled.  When  the  woodcutter's  crown  had  been  properly 
shorn,  Ali  Sekal  asked  where  his  companion  was.  '  He  is  just 
standing  without  here/  said  the  other,  '  and  he  shall  come  in 
presently.'  Accordingly,  he  went  out,  and  returned,  leading 
his  ass  after  him  by  the  halter.  '  This  is  my  companion,'  said 
he,  'and  you  must  shave  him.'  'Shave  him!'  exclaimed  the 
barber,  in  the  greatest  surprise;  'it  is  enough  that  I  have  con- 
sented to  demean  myself  by  touching  you,  and  do  you  insult 
me  by  asking  me  to  do  as  much  for  your  ass  ?  Away  with 
you,  or  I'll  send  you  both  to  Jehanum ;'  aud  forthwith  drove 
them  out  of  his  shop. 

"  The  woodcutter  immediately  went  to  the  Caliph,  was  ad- 
mitted to  his  presence,  and  related  his  case.  "Tis  well,'  said 
the  commander  of  the  faithful :  'bring  Ali  Sakal  and  his  razors 
to  me  this  instant,'  he  exclaimed  to  one  of  his  officers;  and  in 
the  course  of  ten  minutes  the  barber  stood  before  him.  '  Why 
do  you  refuse  to  shave  this  man's  companion  ?'  said  the  Caliph 
to  the  barber :  "  was  not  that  your  agreement  ?'     Ali,  kissing 


A    STRANGE    EXCOUNTKK.  83 

the  ground,  answered :  '  'Tis  true,  0  Caliph,  that  such  was  our 
agreement ;  but  who  ever  made  a  companion  of  an  ass  before  ? 
or  who  ever  before  thought  of  treating  it  like  a  true  believer  ?' 
'You  may  say  right,'  said  the  Caliph  ;  'but,  at  the  same  time, 
who  ever  thought  of  insisting  upon  a  pack-saddle  being  included 
in  a  load  of  wood  ?  'No,  no,  it  is  the  woodcutter's  turn  now. 
To  the  ass  immediately,  or  you  know  the  consequences.'  The 
barber  was  then  obliged  to  prepare  a  great  quantity  of  soap, 
to  lather  the  beast  from  head  to  foot,  and  to  shave  him  in  the 
presence  of  the  Caliph  and  of  the  whole  court,  whilst  he  was 
jeered  and  mocked  by  the  taunts  and  laughing  of  all  the  by- 
standers. The  poor  woodcutter  was  then  dismissed  with  an 
appropriate  present  of  money,  and  all  Bagdad  resounded  with 
the  storv,  and  celebrated  the  justice  of  the  commander  of  the 
faithful. '^' 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

A    STRAXGE    ENCOUNTER. 

I  LEFT  Semuan  with  a  light  heart — my  sprain  was  cured — I 
was  young  and  handsome — twenty  tomanns,  my  savings  at 
Meshed,  clinked  in  my  purse — I  had  acciuircd  some  experience 
in  the  world ;  and  I  determined,  as  soon  as  I  reached  Tehran, 
to  quit  the  garb  of  a  dervish,  to  dress  myself  well  from  head  to 
foot,  and  to  endeavor  to  push  my  fortunes  in  some  higher  walk 
in  life. 

About  a  day's  journey  from  Tehran,  as  I  was  walking  on- 
ward, chanting,  with  all  my  throat,  a  song  on  the  loves  of  Lei- 
lah  and  Majnoun,  I  was  overtaken  by  a  courier,  who  entered 
into  conversation  with  me,  and  invited  me  to  partake  of  some 
victuals  which  he  had  brought  with  him.  The  heat  of  the  day 
being  overpowering,  I  willingly  accepted  his  invitation.  AYe 
settled  ourselves  on  the  borders  of  a  rivulet,  near  a  corn-field, 
whilst  the  courier  took  off  his  horse's  bridle,  and  permitted  it 
to  feed  on  the  new  wheat.  He  then  groped  up,  from  the  deep 
folds  of  his  riding  trowsers,  a  pocket  handkerchief,  in  which 
M-as  \vrapped  several  lumps  of  cold  boiled  rice,  and  three  or  four 
flaps  of  bread,  which  he  spread  before  us,  and  then  added  some 
sour  curds,  which  he  ])(nired  from  a  small  bag  that  hung  at  his 
saddle  bow.     From   the  same  trowsers,  which  contained   his 


84  THE    ADVENTURES    OF    IIAJJI    BABA. 

shoes,  a  provision  of  tobacco,  a  drinking  cup,  and  many  other 
useful  ai'ticles,  he  drew  half  a  dozen  raw  onions,  which  he  added 
to  the  feast ;  and  we  eat  with  such  appetite,  that  very  soon  we 
were  reduced  to  the  melancholy  dessert  of  sucking  our  fingers. 
We  washed  the  whole  down  with  some  water  from  the  rivulet, 
and  only  then  (such  had  been  our  voracity)  we  thought  of  ques- 
tioning each  other  concerning  the  object  of  our  respective  jour- 
neys. From  my  dress,  he  perceived  me  to  be  a  dervish,  and 
my  story  was  soon  told  :  as  for  himself,  he  was  a  courier  belong- 
ing to  the  governor  of  Asterabad,  and  to  my  joy  and  surprise, 
was  carrying  the  happy  intelligence  of  the  release  of  my  former 
companion,  Asker  Khan,  the  Shah's  poet,  from  his  captivity 
among  the  Turcomans.  I  did  not  let  the  courier  know  how 
much  I  was  interested  in  his  errand,  for  experience  had  taught 
me  how  wise  it  was,  in  the  affairs  of  life,  to  keep  one's  own 
counsel ;  and,  therefore,  I  pretended  ignorance  of  even  the 
existence  of  such  a  person. 

My  companion  informed  me  that  the  poet  had  managed  to 
reach  Asterabad  in  safety,  and  that,  being  destitute  of  every- 
thing, he,  in  the  meanwhile,  had  been  despatched  to  give  intel- 
ligence of  his  situation  to  his  family.  He  showed  me  the  letters 
with  which  he  was  entrusted,  which  he  drew  forth  from  his 
breast,  wrapped  up  in  a  handkerchief;  and  being  a  very  inqui- 
sitive fellow,  though  unable  to  read,  he  was  happy  to  find  in  me 
one  who  might  give  him  some  account  of  their  contents.  The 
first  which  I  inspected  was  a  memorial  from  the  poet  to  the  king 
of  kings,  in  which  he  set  forth,  in  language  the  most  poetic,  all 
the  miseries  and  tortures  which  he  had  endured  since  he  had 
been  thrown  into  the  hands  of  the  Turcomans  :  that  the  hunger, 
the  thirst,  and  the  barlxirous  treatment  which  he  had  experi- 
enced, were  nothing,  when  comjiared  with  the  privation  of  the 
all-gracious  and  refulgent  presence  of  that  pearl  of  royalty,  that 
gem  of  magnificence,  the  quintessence  of  all  earthly  perfection, 
the  great  king  of  kings  !  that,  as  the  vilest  reptile  that  crawls  is 
permitted  to  enjoy  the  warmth  of  the  glorious  sun,  so  he,  the 
meanest  of  the  king's  subjects,  hoped  once  more  to  bask  in  the 
sunshine  of  the  royal  countenance ;  and,  finally,  he  humbly 
prayed  that  his  long  absence  might  not  deprive  him  of  the 
shadow  of  the  throne ;  that  he  might  aspire  to  re-occupy  his 
former  post  near  his  majesty's  person,  and  once  again  be  per- 
mitted to  vie  with  the  nightingale,  and  sing  of  the  charms  and 
perfections  of  his  lovely  rose. 

The  next  letter  was  addressed  to  the  prime  vizier,  in  which 
that  notorious  minister,  decrepit  in  person,  and  nefarious  in 
conduct,  was  called  a  planet  among  the  stars,  and  the  sheet- 


A    STRAXGE    EXCOUMER.  85 

anchor  of  the  state,  and  in  which  the  poet  sues  for  his  protec- 
tion. There  was  nearly  a  simihar  one  to  his  former  enemy,  the 
lord  high  treasurer.  I  then  inspected  the  letters  addressed  to 
his  family,  of  which  one  was  to  his  wife,  another  to  his  son's 
tutor,  and  a  third  to  his  steward.  To  his  wife,  he  talked  of  the 
interior  arrangements  of  his  anderun  ;  hoped  that  she  had  been 
economical  in  her  dress,  that  she  had  kept  the  female  slaves  in 
good  order,  and  desired  her  immediately  to  set  herself  and 
them  about  making  clothes  for  him,  as  he  was  destitute  of  every- 
thing. 

To  the  tutor,  he  enjoined  great  attention  to  his  son's  man- 
ners ;  that  he  should  be  taught  all  the  best  forms  of  cant  and 
compliment ;  that  he  should  never  omit  his  prayers ;  and  that 
he  was  to  be  particular  in  teaching  him  how  to  ride ;  and  as 
soon  as  possible  to  perform  the  spear  exercise,  and  to  fire  a 
gun,  on  the  full  gallop,  from  off  his  horse. 

To  his  steward,  he  gave  some  general  instructions  concern- 
ing the  administration  of  his  affairs — enjoined  great  economy  ; — • 
that  he  should  daily  go  and  stand  before  the  prime  vizier; 
praise  him  to  the  skies ;  and  make  all  sorts  of  professions,  on 
his  part,  to  his  excellency ;  that  he  should  keep  a  good  watch 
upon  his  women  and  slaves ;  that  his  wife  should  not  go  too 
often  to  the  bath ;  that  when  she  and  her  slaves  went  abroad 
to  take  the  air,  he  should  accompany  them  ;  that  he  should  not 
admit  any  intriguing  old  women,  particularly  Jewesses,  into  his 
harem ;  and  that  the  walls,  which  surrounded  the  women's 
apartments,  should  always  be  kept  in  good  repair,  in  order  to 
prevent  gadding  on  the  house-top  with  the  neighbors ;  that  his 
black  slave  Johur,  having  now  reached  the  age  of  puberty,  he 
was  no  longer  to  be  allowed  free  access  into  the  anderun  ;  and 
if  he  was  ever  seen  to  be  familiar  with  any  of  the  female  slaves, 
he  and  they  were  to  be  whipped  ;  finally,  he  ordered  the  steward 
to  give  the  courier  a  handsome  reward,  for  being  the  bearer  of 
such  good  news  to  his  family. 

I  folded  up  the  letters  again  ;  those  which  had  been  scaled, 
I  again  sealed,  and  returned  to  the  courier.  lie  seemed  to 
reckon  a  great  deal  upon  the  reward  that  he  was  to  get  for 
bringing  the  first  intelligence  of  the  poet's  safety,  and  told  me 
that,  fearing  some  other  might  get  the  start  of  him,  he  had 
traveled  day  and  night;  and  added  that  the  horse,  which  he 
now  rode,  belonged  to  a  peasant,  from  whom  he  had  taken  it 
forcibly  on  the  road,  having  left  his  own,  which  was  knocked 
up,  to  be  brought  on  after  him. 

After  we  had  conversed  a  little  more,  he  seemed  entirely 
overpowered  by  fatigue,  and  fell  into  a  profound  sleep.     As  he 


86  THE    ADVENTURES    OF    HAJJI    BABA. 

lay  extended  on  the  grass,  I  looked  upon  him,  and  I  began  to 
reflect  how  easy  it  would  be  to  forestall  him.  I  knew  the  whole 
of  the  poet's  history ;  in  fact,  I  was  in  some  measure  identified 
with  it.  I  began  to  think  that  I  had  a  right  to  the  first  rela- 
tion of  it.  Then  as  to  the  horse,  it  was  as  much  mine  as  his ; 
particularly  since  the  peasant,  with  his  own,  must  now  be  close 
to  hand :  so  without  more  ceremony,  I  unfolded  the  handker- 
chief, which  still  lay  in  his  lap,  and  taking  out  the  letter  to  the 
steward,  I  mounted  the  horse ;  I  applied  the  stirrups  to  his 
sides;  I  galloped  off";  and  in  a  very  short  time  had  left  the 
sleeper  far  behind  me,  and  had  made  considerable  progress  on 
the  road  to  the  capital. 

As  I  rode  along,  I  considered  what  was  now  my  best  line  of 
conduct,  and  in  what  manner  I  should  best  introduce  myself  to 
the  poet's  family,  so  as  to  make  my  story  good,  and  secure  for 
myself  tlie  reward  which  had  been  destined  for  the  courier.  I 
calculated  that  I  should  have  at  least  a  good  day's  start  of  him  ; 
for  when  he  awoke,  he  probably  would  be  obliged  to  walk  some 
distance  before  he  got  another  horse,  should  he  not  regain  his 
own,  which  was  very  doubtful ;  and  appearing  on  foot  as  he 
did,  it  would  be  an  hundred  to  one  if  anybody  would  believe 
his  story,  and  he,  most  probably,  would  now  be  refused  the 
loan  of  a  beast  to  carry  him  on.  I  resolved,  therefore,  im- 
mediately upon  reaching  Tehran,  that  I  would  sell  the  horse, 
and  its  accoutrements,  for  what  they  would  fetch  ;  I  would  then 
exchange  my  dervish's  dress  for  the  common  dress  of  the  coun- 
try ;  and  making  myself  up  as  one  come  from  oft'  a  long  journey, 
I  would  present  myself  at  the  gate  of  the  poet's  house,  and 
there  make  the  best  story  I  could,  which  would  be  a- sufficiently 
easy  matter,  considering  how  well  I  was  acquainted  with  every 
circumstance  relating  to  him. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

HAJJI    BABA    GOES   TO    THE    POET's    HOUSE. 

I  ENTERED  Tehran  early  in  the  morning  by  the  Shab  Abdul 
Azim  gate,  just  as  it  was  opened,  and  immediately  exhibited 
my  horse  for  sale  at  the  market,  which  is  daily  held  there,  for 
that  purpose.  I  had  proved  it  to  be  a  good  beast,  from  the 
rate  at  which  I  had  traveled  since  taking  my  hasty  leave  of  the 


HAJJI    BABA    GOES    TO    THE    POET's    HOUSE.  8T 

courier ;  but  a  horse-dealer,  to  whom  I  sliowed  it,  made  out  so 
clearly,  that  it  was  full  of  defects,  that  I  thought  myself  in  luck, 
if  I  got  anything  at  all  for  it.  It  was  clixp^'' — it  had  the  ableh 
— it  was  old,  and  its  teeth  had  been  burnt ;  in  short,  it  seemed 
to  have  every  quality  that  a  horse  ought  not  to  have.  I  was 
therefore  surprised  when  he  offered  me  live  tomauns  for  it,  pro- 
vided I  threw  him  the  bridle  and  saddle  into  the  bargain,  and 
he  seemed  as  surprised,  when  I  took  him  at  his  word,  and  ac- 
cepted of  his  offer.  He  paid  me  down  one-half  of  the  money, 
and  then  offered  me  a  half-starved  ass  in  payment  of  the  re- 
mainder ;  but  this  I  refused,  and  he  promised  to  pay  me  in  full 
when  we  met  again.  I  was  too  much  in  haste  to  continue  bar- 
gaining any  longer ;  so,  going  straightway  to  the  bazaar,  I 
bought  a  black  cap,  laid  by  my  dervish's  tiara,  and  having 
equipped  myself  in  a  manner  to  be  taken  for  one  come  from  off 
a  journey,  I  inquired  my  way  to  the  house  of  the  poet. 

It  was  situated  in  a  pleasant  quarter  of  the  town,  surrounded 
by  gardens  filled  with  poplars  and  pomegranate  trees,  and  in  a 
street  through  which  ran  a  stream  of  water,  bordered  by  beautiful 
chenars.  But  the  house  itself  seemed  indeed  to  speak  the  ab- 
sence of  its  master  :  the  gate  was  half  closed  ;  there  was  no  stir 
about  it ;  and  when  I  entered  the  first  court,  I  could  perceive 
but  few  indications  of  an  inhabitant.  This  looked  ill  for  my 
promised  reward.  At  length,  making  my  way  to  the  upper 
room,  that  was  situated  over  the  gate,  I  there  saw  a  man  of 
about  fifty  years  old,  seated  on  a  felt  carpet,  smoking  his  water 
pipe,  whom  I  found  to  be  the  very  person  I  was  in  search  of, 
viz.  the  JSfazir  or  steward. 

"I  immediately  exclaimed,  "Good  news!  the  khan  is 
coming." 

*'  Tani  cliehl  what  do  you  mean  ?"  said  he  ;  "  which  khan  ? 
where  ?  when  ?" 

When  I  had  explained  myself,  and  had  presented  the  let- 
ter addressed  to  him,  he  seemed  to  be  thrown  into  a  mixed 
state  of  feigned  joy  and  real  sorrow,  amazement,  and  appre- 
hension. 

"But  are  you  very  sure,"  said  he,  "that  the  khan  is  alive  V 

"  Yery  sure,"  returned  I ;  "  and  before  to-morrow  is  over, 
you  will  receive  another  courier,  who  will  give  you  many  more 
particulars  of  his  safely,  and  who  will  bring  letters  to  the  king, 
viziers,  and  others." 

*  The  Persians  have  a  particular  aversion  to  horses  which  have  white  legs 
on  one  side,  which  they  call  vliup ;  and  they  also  very  much  undervalue  a 
horse  that  has  the  uhhh,  which  cousists  of  white  leprous  marks  on  its  nose, 
round  the  eyes,  and  under  the  tail. 


88  THE    ADVENTURES    OF    HAJJI    BABA. 

He  then  began  to  make  all  sorts  of  incoherent  exclamations ; 
"  This  is  a  wonderful  business  1  What  dust  has  fallen  upon  our 
heads  !     Where  shall  I  go  ?     What  shall  I  do  ?" 

When  he  had  a  little  recovered  himself,  I  endeavored  to  per- 
suade him  to  give  me  an  explanation  of  his  emotions  on  this 
occasion,  and  tell  me  why  he  felt  so  agitated,  and  apparently 
distressed,  at  what  ought  only  to  be  a  matter  of  joy.  All  I 
could  hear  from  him  was,  "He  must  be  dead;  everybo'dy  says 
he  is  dead  ;  his  wife  dreamt  that  she  had  lost  her  largest  tooth, 
the  one  that  gave  her  such  aching  pain,  and  therefore  he  is 
dead  :  besides  the  king  has  settled  it  so.  He  cannot  be  alive  ; 
he  must  not  be  alive." 

"Well,"  said  I,  "if  he  is  dead,  be  it  so;  all  I  can  say  is, 
that  he  was  one  of  the  true  believei's  at  Asterabad,  not  six  days 
ago  ;  and  that  he  will  soon  prove  in  person,  by  showing  him- 
self at  Tehran,  in  the  course  of  another  week. 

After  the  Nazir  had  sat,  and  wondered,  and  ruminated  for 
some  time,  he  said,  "You  will  not  be  surprised  at  my  per- 
plexity when  I  tell  you  of  the  state  of  things  here,  in  con- 
sequence of  the  report  of  my  master's  death.  In  the  first  place, 
the  Shah  has  seized  all  his  property  :  his  house,  furniture,  and 
live-stock,  including  his  Georgian  slaves,  are  to  be  given  to 
Khur  Ali  Mirza,  one  of  the  king's  younger  sons  :  his  village 
now  belongs  to  the  prime  vizier :  his  place  is  about  to  be  be- 
stowed upon  Mirza  Fursiil ;  and,  to  crown  all,  his  wife  has 
married  his  son's  tutor;  Say,  then,  whether  or  no  I  have  not 
a  right  to  be  astonished  and  perplexed  ?" 

I  agreed  that  there  was  no  disputing  his  right ;  "but,  in  the 
meanwhile,"  said  I,  "  what  becomes  of  my  reward  ?" 

"  O,  as  for  that,"  answered  the  Nazir,  "you  cannot  expect 
anything  from  me  ;  for  you  have  brought  me  no  joyful  tidings  : 
you  may  claim  it  from  my  master,  when  he  comes,  if  you  choose, 
but  I  can  give  you  nothing." 

Upon  which,  promising  to  return  on  some  future  day,  I  left 
the  Nizar  to  his  own  reflections,  and  quitted  the  house. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

PLANS    FOR   THE    FUTURE. 

I  DETERMixED  to  Wait  the  arrival  of  tlie  poet,  and  through  his 
interference  to  endeavor  to  get  into  some  situation,  where  I 
miglit  gain  my  bread  honestly,  and  acquire  a  chance  of  advanc- 
ing myself  in  life,  without  having  recourse  to  the  tricks  and 
frauds  which  I  had  hitherto  practised  :  for  I  was  tired  of  herd- 
ing with  the  low  and  the  vulgar ;  and  I  saw  so  many  instances 
before  me  of  men  rising  in  the  world  and  acquiring  Iboth  riches 
and  honor,  who  had  sprung  from  an  origin  (juite  as  obscure  as 
my  own,  that  I  already  anticipated  my  elevation,  and  even 
settled  in  my  own  mind  how  I  should  act  when  I  was  a  prime 
vizier. 

"Who,"  said  I  to  myself,  "was  the  Shah's  chief  favorite, 
Ismael  Beg  tellai,  or  the  golden,  but  aferash,  or  a  tent-pitcher? 
He  is  neither  handsomer  nor  better  spoken  than  I ;  and  if  ever 
there  should  be  an  opportunity  of  comparing  our  horsemanship, 
I  think  one  who  has  been  brought  up  amongst  the  Turcomans 
would  show  him  what  riding  is,  in  spite  of  his  reputation. 
Well ;  and  the  famous  lord  high  treasurer,  who  fills  the  king's 
coffers  with  gold,  and  who  does  not  forget  his  own — who  and 
what  was  he  ?  A  barber's  son  is  quite  as  good  as  a  green  gro- 
cer's, and  in  our  respective  cases,  a  great  deal  better  too ;  for  I 
can  read  and  write,  whereas  his  excellency,  as  report  says,  can 
do  neither.  He  eats  and  drinks  what  he  likes  ;  he  puts  on  a 
new  coat  every  day  ;  and,  after  the  Shah,  has  the  choice  of  all 
the  beauties  of  Persia;  and,  all  this  without  half  my  sense,  or 
half  my  abilities  :  for  to  hear  the  world  talk,  one  must  believe 
him  to  be  little  better  than  a  khur  be  teshdeed,  i.  e.  a  doubly  ac- 
cented ass. 

I  continued  wrapt  up  in  these  sort  of  meditations,  seated 
with  my  back  against  the  wall  of  one  of  the  crowded  avenues 
which  lead  to  the  gate  of  the  royal  palace,  and  had  so  worked 
up  my  imagination  by  the  prospect  of  my  future  greatness,  that 
on  rising  to  walk  away,  I  instinctively  pushed  the  crowd  from 
before  me,  as  if  such  respect  from  them  was  due  to  one  of  my 
lofty  pretensions.  Some  stared  at  me,  some  abused  me,  and 
others  took  me  for  a  madman  ;  and  indeed  when  I  came  to  my- 
self, and  looked  at  my  tattered  clothes  and  my  beggarly  appear- 
8*  '  (89) 


90  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HaJJI  BABA. 

auce,  I  could  not  help  smiling  at  tbeii:,  surprise,  and  at  my  folly ; 
and  straightway  went  into  the  cloth  bazaar  in  the  determination 
of  fitting  myself  out  in  decent  apparel,  as  the  first  step  towards 
my  change  of  life. 

Making  my  way  through  the  crowd,  I  was  stopped  by  a 
violent  quarrel  between  three  men,  who  were  abusing  each  other 
with  more  than  ordinary  violence.  I  pushed  into  the  circle 
which  surrounded  them,  and  there,  to  my  dismay,  discovered  the 
courier,  whom  I  had  deceived,  seconded  by  a  peasant,  attacking 
the  horse-dealer,  whom  they  had  just  pulled  off  the  horse  which 
I  had  sold  him. 

"That  is  my  horse,"  said  the  peasant. 

"  That  is  my  saddle,"  said  the  courier. 

"They  are  mine,"  exclaimed  the  horse-dealer. 

I  immediately  saw  the  danger  in  which  I  stood,  and  was 
about  to  slink  away,  when  I  was  perceived  by  the  horse-dealer, 
who  seized  hold  of  my  girdle,  and  said,  "  This  is  the  man  I 
bought  the  horse  of."  As  soon  as  I  was  recognized  by  the 
courier,  immediately  the  whole  brunt  of  the  quarrel,  like  a 
thunder  cloud,  burst  on  my  head,  and  I  was  almost  overwhelmed 
by  its  violence.  Rascal,  thief,  cheat,  were  epithets  which  were 
dinned  into  my  ears  without  mercy. 

"Where's  my  horse?"  cried  one. — "Give  me  my  saddle," 
vociferated  the  other. — "Return  me  my  money,"  roared  out  a 
third. — "Take  him  to  the  Cadi,"  said  the  crowd. 

In  vain  I  bawled,  swore,  and  bade  defiance ;  in  vain  I  was 
all  smoothness  and  conciliation  ;  it  was  impossible  for  the  first' 
ten  minutes  to  gain  a  hearing ;  every  one  recited  his  griefs. 
The  courier's  rage  was  almost  ungovernable  ;  the  peasant  com- 
plained of  the  injustice  which  had  been  done  him ;  and  the 
horse-dealer  called  me  every  sort  of  name,  for  having  robbed 
him  of  his  money.  I  first  talked  to  the  one,  then  coaxed  the 
other,  and  endeavored  to  bully  the  third.  To  the  courier  I  said, 
"Why  are  you  so  angry  ?  there  is  your  saddle  safe  and  sound, 
you  can  ask  no  more."  To  the  peasant  I  exclaimed,  "You 
could  not  say  more  if  your  beast  had  actually  been  killed  :  take 
him  and  walk  away,  and  return  thanks  to  Allah  that  it  is  no 
worse."  As  for  the  horse-dealer,  I  inveighed  against  him  with 
all  the  bitterness  of  a  man  who  had  been  cheated  of  his  pro- 
perty :  "  You  have  a  right  to  talk  indeed  of  having  been  de- 
ceived, when  to  this  moment  you  know  that  you  have  only  paid 
me  one  half  of  the  cost  of  the  horse,  and  that  you  wanted  to 
fob  me  off  with  a  dying  ass  for  the  other  half. 

I  offered  to  return  him  the  money ;  but  this  he  refused  :  he 
insisting  upon  my  paying  him  the  keep  of  the  horse  besides ; 


PLANS   FOR    THE    FUTURE.  91 

upon  which  a  new  quarrel  ensued,  in  which  arguments  were 
used  on  both  sides  which  convinced  neither  party,  and  conse- 
quently we  immediately  adjourned  to  the  daroga,  or  police  ma- 
gistrate, who,  we  agreed,  should  decide  the  question  between  us. 

We  found  him  at  his  post,  at  the  cross  streets  in  the  bazaar, 
surrounded  by  his  officers,  who,  with  their  long  sticks,  were  in 
readiness  to  inflict  the  bastinado  on  the  first  offender.  I  opened 
the  case,  and  stated  all  the  circumstances  of  it ;  insisting  very 
strongly  on  the  evident  intention  to  cheat  me,  which  the  horse- 
dealer  had  exhibited.  The  horse-dealer  answered  me,  and 
showed  that  as  the  horse  did  not  belong  to  him,  it  being  stolen 
from  another,  he  had  no  right  to  pay  for  its  keep. 

The  question  puzzled  the  daroga  so  much,  that  he  declined 
interfering,  and  was  about  ordering  us  to  the  tribunal  of  the  Cadi, 
when  a  decrepit  old  man,  a  bystander,  said,  "  Why  do  you  make 
so  much  difficulty  aljout  a  plain  question  ? — when  the  horse- 
dealer  shall  have  paid  the  Hajji  the  remaining  half  of  the  price 
of  the  horse,  then  the  Hajji  shall  pay  for  the  keep  of  the  beast, 
as  long  as  it  was  in  the  horse-dealer's  possession." 

Every  one  cried  Barik  Allah  !  Barik  Allah  !  Praise  be  to 
God  !  and  whether  right  or  wrong,  they  all  appeared  so  struck 
by  the  specious  justice  of  the  decision,  that  the  daroga  dismissed 
us,  and  told  us  to  depart  in  peace. 

I  did  not  lose  a  moment  in  repaying  to  the  horse-dealer  the 
purchase  money  of  the  horse,  and  in  getting  from  him  a  receipt 
in  full :  it  was  only  after  he  had  settled  with  me  that  he  began 
to  ponder  over  the  merits  of  the  decision,  and  seemed  extremely 
puzzled  to  discover  why,  if  he  was  entitled  to  the  horse's  keep 
at  all,  he  was  not  entitled  to  it,  whether  he  had  paid  me  half 
or  the  whole  of  the  money  ?  He  seemed  to  think,  that  he  for 
once  had  been  duped ;  and  very  luckily  his  rage  was  averted 
from  me  to  the  daroga,  who  he  very  freely  accused  of  being  a 
puzzle-headed  fool,  and  one  who  had  no  more  pretension  to  law 
than  he  had  to  honesty. 


CHAPTER    XVII. 

APPEARS    IN    A   KEW    CHARACTER. 

I  NOAv  looked  upon  myself  as  clear  of  this  unpleasant  business, 
wliich  I  had  entirely  brought  on  ray  own  head,  and  congratu- 
lated myself  that  I  had  got  off  at  so  cheap  a  rate.  I  again  made 
my  way  to  the  cloth  bazaar,  and  going  to  the  first  shop  near  the 
gate  of  it,  I  inquired  the  price  of  red  cloth,  of  which  it  was  my 
ambition  to  make  a  baruni,  or  cloak ;  because  I  thought  that 
it  would  give  that  respectability  to  my  appearance  which  I  al- 
ways felt  for  those  who  wore  it.  The  shop-keeper,  upon  look- 
ing at  me  from  head  to  foot,  said  "A  haruni,  indeed  I  and  for 
whom  do  you  want  it,  and  who  is  to  pay  for  it  ?" 

"  For  myself,  to  be  sure,"  answered  I. 

"  And  what  does  such  a  poor  devil  as  you  want  with  such  a 
coat  ?"  said  he  :  "  Mirzas  and  Khans  only  wear  them,  and  I 
am  sure  you  are  no  such  personage." 

I  was  about  to  answer  in  great  wrath,  when  a  dalal,  or 
broker,  went  by,  loaded  with  all  sorts  of  second-hand  clothes, 
which  he  was  hawking  about  for  sale,  and  to  him  I  immediately 
made  application,  in  spite  of  the  reiterated  calls  of  the  shop- 
keeper, who  now  too  late  repented  of  having  driven  me  off  iu 
so  hasty  a  manner.  We  retreated  to  a  corner  in  the  gateway 
of  the  adjacent  mosque,  and  there  the  dalal,  putting  his  load 
down,  spread  his  merchandise  before  me.  I  was  struck  by  a 
fine  shot  silk  vest,  trimmed  in  front  with  gold  lace  and  gold 
buttons,  of  which  I  asked  the  price.  The  dalal  extolled  its 
beauty  and  my  taste  ;  swore  that  it  belonged  to  one  of  the 
king's  favorite  Georgians,  who  had  only  worn  it  twice,  and 
having  made  me  try  it  on,  w^alked  around  and  around  me, 
exclaiming  all  the  while,  '' Mashallah,  llashallakP'  Praise  be 
to  God  !  I  was  so  pleased  with  this,  that  I  must  needs  have  a 
shawl  for  my  waist  to  match,  and  he  produced  an  old  Cashme- 
rian  shawl,  full  of  holes  and  darns,  which  he  assured  me  had 
belonged  to  one  of  the  ladies  in  the  king's  harem,  and  which, 
he  said,  he  would  let  me  have  at  a  reasonable  price.  My  vanity 
made  me  prefer  this  commodity  to  a  new  Kerman  shawl,  which 
I  might  have  had  for  what  I  was  about  to  pay  for  the  old, 
worn  out  Cashmere,  and  adjusting  it  so  as  to  hide  the  defects, 
I  wound  it  about  my  waist,  which  only  wanted  a  dagger  stuck 
(92) 


APPEARS    IN    A    NEW    CHARACTER.  93 

into  it,  to  make  my  dress  complete.  With  tliis  the  dalal  also 
supplied  me,  and  when  I  was  thus  equipped  I  could  not  resist 
expressing  my  satisfaction  to  the  broker,  who  was  not  backward 
in  assuring  me  that  there  was  not  a  handsomer  nor  better 
dressed  man  in  Tehran. 

When  we  came  to  settle  our  accounts,  the  business  wore  a 
more  serious  aspect.  The  dalal  began  by  assuring  me  of  his 
honesty,  that  he  was  not  like  other  dalals,  who  asked  a  hundred 
and  then  took  fifty,  and  that  when  he  said  a  thing,  I  might 
depend  upon  his  veracity.  He  then  asked  me  five  tomauns  for 
the  coat,  fifteen  for  the  shawl,  and  four  for  the  dagger,  making 
altogether  twenty-four  tomauns. 

Upon  hearing  this,  my  delight  subsided,  for  I  had  barely 
twenty  tomauns  in  my  pocket,  and  I  was  about  stripping  myself 
of  my  finery,  and  returning  again  to  my  old  clothes,  when  the 
dalal  stopped  me,  and  said,  "  You  may  perhaps  think  that  price 
a  little  too  much,  but,  by  my  head  and  by  your  soul,  I  bought 
them  for  that — tell  me  what  you  will  give."  I  answered  that 
it  was  out  of  the  question  dealing  with  him  upon  such  high 
terms,  but  that  if  he  would  give  them  to  me  for  five  tomauns  I 
would  be  a  purchaser.  This  he  rejected  with  disdain,  upon 
which  I  stripped,  and  returned  him  his  property.  When  he 
had  collected  his  things  again,  and  apparently  when  all  dealings 
between  us  were  at  an  end,  he  said,  "  I  feel  a  friendship  for  you, 
and  I  will  do  for  you  what  I  would  not  do  for  ray  brother — 
you  shall  have  them  for  ten  tomauns."  I  again  refused,  and 
we  stood  higgling,  until  we  agreed  that  I  should  pay  him  six, 
and  one  by  way  of  a  dress  for  himself.  This  was  no  sooner 
said  than  done. 

■  He  their  left  me,  and  I  packed  up  my  bargain,  with  the 
intention  of  first  going  to  the  bath,  and  there  equipping  myself. 
On  my  road  I  bought  a  pair  of  high-heeled  green  slippers,  a 
blue  silk  shirt,  and  a  pair  of  crimson  silk  trowsers,  and  having 
tied  up  the  whole  in  my  handkerchief,  I  proceeded  to  the  bath. 

No  one  took  notice  of  me  as  I  entered,  for  one  of  my  mean 
appearance  could  create  no  sensation,  and  I  comforted  myself 
by  the  reflection  that  the  case  would  be  changed  as  soon  as  I 
should  put  on  my  new  clothes.  I  deposited  my  bundle  in  a 
corner,  where  I  also  undressed,  and  having  wrapt  myself  round 
with  a  towel,  I  entered  the  l)ath. 

Here  all  ranks  were  on  a  level,  in  appearance  at  least,  and  I 
now  flattered  myself  that  my  fine  form,  my  broad  chest,  and 
narrow  waist,  would  make  me  an  object  of  admiration.  I  called 
to  one  of  the  dnlals  (l)athiiig  men)  to  wait  u])on  me,  and  to  go 
through  the  dilterent  operations  of  rubbing  with  the  hand,  and 


94  TEE    ADVENTURES    OF    HAJJI    BABA. 

of  the  friction  witli  the  liair  bap-,  and  I  also  ordered  him  to 
shave  my  liead,  to  get  ready  the  necessary  materials  for  dyeing 
my  beard,  moustaches,  and  curls,  as  well  as  my  hands  and  the 
soles  of  my  feet ;  and  also  to  prepare  the  depilatory ;  in  short, 
I  announced  my  intention  of  undergoing  a  complete  lustration. 

The  dalak,  as  soon  as  he  began  rubbing  me,  expressed  his 
admiration  at  my  broad  chest  by  his  repeated  exclamations ; 
and  bearing  in  mind  the  influence  which  new  clothes  were 
likely  to  create,  I  behaved  like  one  who  had  been  accustomed 
to  this  sort  of  praise  and  attention.  He  said  that  I  could  not 
have  come  at  a  luckier  hour,  for  that  he  had  just  operated  upon 
a  Khan,  who  having  received  a  dress  of  honor  from  the  Shah, 
upon  the  occasion  of  bringing  the  first  melons  from  Ispahan, 
had  been  sent  to  the  bath  by  the  astrologers  at  this  particular 
time,  as  the  most  fortunate  for  putting  on  a  new  dress. 

As  soon  as  all  was  over,  the  dalak  brought  me  some  dry 
linen,  and  conducted  me  to  the  spot  where  I  had  left  my  clothes. 
With  what  pleasure  I  opened  my  bundle  and  inspected  my 
finery !  It  appeared  that  I  was  renovated  in  proportion  as  I 
put  on  each  article  of  dress.  I  had  never  yet  been  clothed  in 
silk.  I  tied  on  my  trowsers  with  the  air  of  a  man  of  fashion, 
and  when  I  heard  the  rustling  of  my  vest,  I  turned  about  iu 
exultation  to  see  who  might  be  looking  at  me.  My  shawl  was 
wound  about  me  in  the  newest  style,  rather  falling  in  front,  and 
spread  out  large  behind,  and  when  the  dagger  glittered  in  my 
girdle,  I  conceived  that  nothing  could  exceed  the  finish  of  my 
whole  adjustment.  I  indented  the  top  of  my  cap  iu  the  true 
Kajari  or  royal  style,  and  placed  it  on  ray  head  considerably 
on  one  side.  When  the  bathing  man  at  length  brought  me  the 
looking-glass,  as  a  signal  for  paying  for  the  bath,  I  detained 
him  for  the  purpose  of  surveying  myself,  arranging  my  curls  to 
twist  up  behind  the  ear,  and  pulling  my  moustaches  up  towards 
my  eyes.  I  then  paid  him  handsomely,  and  leaving  my  old 
clothes  under  his  charge,  I  made  my  exit  with  the  strut  of  a 
man  of  consequence. 


CHAPTER    XVIIL 

THE    POET    RETURNS    FROM    CAPTIVITY, 

I  TOOK  my  road  towards  the  poet's  house,  in  the  hope  of 
gaining  some  intelligence  about  him.  From  the  head  of  the 
street  I  perceived  a  crowd  surrounding  the  gate,  and  I  was  soon 
informed  that  he  had  just  arrived,  and  had  gone  through  the 
ceremony  of  making  his  entrance  through  the  roof  instead  of 
through  the  door ;  for  such  is  the  custom  when  a  man  who  has 
been  thought  dead  returns  home  alive. 

I  immediately  pushed  through  the  crowd,  made  my  way  into 
the  room  where  the  poet  was  seated,  and  with  every  demonstra- 
tion of  great  joy,  congratulated  him  upon  his  safe  arrival.  He 
did  not  recognize  me,  and  even  when  I  had  explained  who  I 
was,  he  could  scarcely  believe  that  one  so  trim  and  smart  as  I 
then  was  could  be  the  same  dirty,  ragged  ruffian  whom  he  had 
known  before. 

The  apartment  was  filled  with  all  sorts  of  people,  some  happy 
at  his  return,  others  full  of  disappointment.  Among  the  latter, 
and  those  who  paid  him  the  iinest  compliments,  was  Mirza 
Fuzul,  the  man  who  had  been  nominated  to  succeed  him  in  his 
situation,  and  who  did  not  cease  exclaiming,  "  Your  place  has 
been  empty,  and  our  eyes  are  enlightened,"  as  long  as  he 
remained  in  the  room.  At  length,  a  great  bustle  was  heard, 
the  doors  were  opened,  and  an  officer  from  the  king  was  an- 
nounced, who  commanded  the  poet  forthwith  to  repair  to  the 
presence,  which  he  did  in  the  very  clothes,  boots,  dust  and  all, 
in  which  he  had  travelled. 

The  party  then  broke  up,  and  I  left  the  house  in  the  deter- 
mination of  returning  the  next  day ;  but  as  I  was  going  out  of 
the  yard,  I  met  the  Nazir,  with  whom  I  had  had  a  conversation 
as  before  related.  He  did  not  a})pcar  to  me  to  be  among  the 
happy  ones.  "In  the  name  of  Allah,"  said  I,  "youscethat 
my  words  have  proved  true:  the  Khan  is  alive!"  "True 
enough,"  answered  he,  with  a  sigh ;  he  is  alive ;  and  may  his 
life  be  a  long  one !  but  God  is  great  1"  and  then,  making  two 
or  three  more  similar  exclamations,  he  left  me,  apparently  full 
of  care  and  misery. 

I  passed  the  remainder  of  the  day  in  strolling  about,  and 
building  castles  in  the  air.     I  walked  through  the  bazaars,  went 

-     "  m 


96  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

to  the  mosques,  and  lounged  among  the  idlers,  who  are  always 
to  be  found  in  great  numbers  about  the  gate  of  the  royal  palace. 
Here,  the  news  of  the  day  was  the  poet's  return,  and  the  re- 
ception which  he  had  met  with  from  the  Shah.  Some  said  that 
his  majesty,  upon  hearing  of  his  arrival,  had  ordained  that  it 
could  not  be  ;  that  he  was  dead,  and  must  be  so.  Others,  that, 
on  the  contrary,  the  king  was  happy  at  the  intelligence,  and 
had  ordered  ten  tomauns  to  be  given  to  the  bearer  of  it.  The 
truth,  however,  was  this ;  the  king  had  been  disappointed  at 
the  poet's  resurrection,  because  it  destroyed  the  arrangements 
he  had  made  with  respect  to  his  house  and  effects,  and  he  was 
not  disposed  to  give  him  a  good  reception ;  but  Asker,  who 
well  knew  his  majesty's  passion  for  poetry,  and  particularly  of 
that  kind  which  sings  the  royal  praises,  had  long  since  foreseen 
the  event,  and  had  provided  himself  with  an  impromptu,  which 
he  had  composed  even  when  he  was  living  an  exile  among  the 
Turcomans.  This  he  repeated  at  the  proper  moment ;  and  thus 
the  tide  of  the  king's  favor,  which  was  running  full  against  him, 
he  entirely  turned,  and  made  it  flow  to  his  advantage.  In 
short,  he  had  his  mouth  filled  with  gold  for  his  pains,  was  in- 
vested with  a  magnificent  dress,  and  was  reinstated  in  his  situa- 
tion and  his  possessions. 

I  lost  no  time  in  again  congratulating  my  adopted  patron, 
and  did  not  miss  a  single  morning  in  attending  his  levee. 
Finding  that  he  was  favorably  inclined  towards  me,  I  made 
known  to  him  my  situation,  and  entreated  him  either  to  give 
me  a  place  in  his  household,  or  to  recommend  me  as  a  servant 
to  one  of  his  acquaintance.  I  had  found  out  that  the  Nazir's 
despondency  at  his  master's  return  proceeded  from  the  fear  of 
being  detected  in  certain  frauds  which  he  had  committed  on  his 
property ;  and,  as  I  hoped  that  I  might  eventually  succeed  to 
his  situation,  I  expressed  the  greatest  zeal  for  the  poet's  in- 
terest, and  disclosed  all  that  I  knew  concerning  the  delinquency 
of  his  servant.  However,  I  did  not  succeed ;  for  whether  he 
had  a  clearer  insight  into  characters  than  I  gave  him  credit  for, 
or  whether  the  Js^azir  managed  to  prove  his  innocence,  and 
make  me  suspected,  I  know  not ;  but  the  fact  was,  that  he  kept 
his  place,  and  I  continued  to  be  an  attendant  at  the  levees. 

At  length,  one  morning  Asker  called  me  to  him,  and  said, 
"Hajji,  my  friend,  you  know  how  thankful  I  have  always  ex- 
pressed myself  for  your  kindness  to  me  when  we  were  prisoners 
together  in  the  hands  of  the  Turcomans,  and  now  I  will  prove 
my  gratitude.  I  have  recommended  you  strongly  to  Mirza 
Ahmak,  the  king's  Haldm  BasM,  or  chief  physician,  who  is  in 
want  of  a  servant ;  and  I  make  no  doubt,  that  if  you  give  him 


THE    rOET    RETURNS    FROM    CAITIVITY.  21 

satisfactioD,  he  will  teach  you  his  art,  and  put  you  in  the  way 
of  making  your  fortune.  You  have  only  to  present  yourself 
before  him,  saying  that  you  come  from  me,  and  he  will  im- 
mediately assign  you  an  employment." 

I  had  no  turn  for  the  practice  of  physic,  and  recollecting  the 
story  which  had  been  related  to  me  by  the  dervish,  I  held  the 
profession  in  contempt :  but  my  case  was  desperate  ;  I  had 
spent  my  last  di7iar,  ond  therefore  I  had  nothing  left  me  but  to 
accept  of  the  doctor's  place.  Accordingly,  the  next  morning  I 
proceeded  to  his  house,  which  was  situated  in  the  neighborhood 
of  the  palace ;  and  as  I  entered  a  dull,  neglected  court-yard,  I 
there  found  several  sick  persons,  some  squatted  against  the  wall, 
others  supported  by  their  friends,  and  others  again  with  bottles 
in  their  hands,  waiting  the  moment  when  the  physician  should 
leave  the  women's  apartments  to  transact  business  in  public.  I 
proceeded  to  an  open  window,  where  those  who  were  not 
privileged  to  enter  tlie  room  stood,  and  there  I  took  my  station 
until  I  should  be  called  in.  Within  the  room  were  several  per- 
sons who  came  to  pay  their  court  to  the  doctor,  (for  every  man 
who  is  an  officer  of  the  court  has  his  levee,)  and  from  remark- 
ing them,  I  learnt  how  necessary  it  was,  in  order  to  advance  in 
life,  to  make  much  of  everything,  even  the  dog  or  the  cat,  if 
they  came  in  my  way,  of  him  who  can  have  access  to  the  ear  of 
men  in  power.  I  made  my  reflections  upon  the  miseries  I  had 
already  undergone,  and  was  calculating  how  long  it  would  take 
me  to  go  through  a  course  of  cringing  and  flattery  to  be  en- 
titled to  the  same  sorts  of  attention  myself,  when  I  perceived, 
by  the  bows  of  those  near  me,  that  the  doctor  had  seated  him- 
self at  the  window,  and  that  the  business  of  the  day  had  com- 
menced. 

The  Hakim  was  an  old  man,  with  an  eye  sunk  deep  in  his 
head,  high  cheek  bones,  and  a  scanty  beard.  He  had  a  con- 
siderable bend  in  his  back,  and  his  usual  attitude,  when  seated, 
was  that  of  a  projecting  chin,  his  head  reclining  back  between 
his  shoulders,  and  his  hands  resting  on  his  girdle,  whilst  his 
elbows  formed  two  triangles  on  each  side  of  his  body.  He 
made  short,  snappish  questions,  gave  little  hums  at  the  answers, 
and  seemed  to  be  thinking  of  anything  but  the  subject  before 
him.  When  he  heard  the  account  of  the  ailments  of  those  who 
had  come  to  consult  him,  and  had  said  a  few  words  to  his  little 
circle  of  parasites,  he  looked  at  me,  and  after  I  had  told  him 
that  I  was  the  person  of  whom  the  poet  had.  spoken,'  he  fixed 
his  little  sharp  eyes  upon  me  for  a  second  or  two,  and  then  de- 
sired me  to  wait,  for  that  he  wished  to  speak  to  me  in  private. 
Accordingly,  he  soon  after  got  up,  and  went  out  of  the  room, 
9' 


98  THE    ADVENTURES    OF    JIAJJI    BABA. 

and  I  was  called  upon  to  attend  him  in  a  small  separate  conrt, 
closely  walled  on  all  sides,  except  on  the  one  where  was  situated 
the  khelwet,  or  private  room,  in  which  the  doctor  was  seated. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

HAJJI    BABA    AXD    THE    KING's    PHYSICIAN. 

As  soon  as  I  appeared,  the  doctor  invited  me  into  the  room, 
and  requested  me  to  be  seated ;  which  I  did  with  all  the  hu- 
mility which  it  is  etiquette  for  an  inferior  to  show  towards  his 
superior  for  so  great  an  honor. 

He  informed  me,  that  the  poet  had  spoken  very  favorably 
of  me,  and  had  said  that  I  was  a  person  to  be  depended  upon, 
particularly  on  account  of  my  discretion  and  prudence ;  that  I 
had  seen  a  great  deal  of  life  ;  that  I  was  fertile  in  expedients  ; 
and  that  if  any  business  in  which  circumspection  and  secrecy 
were  necessary  was  intrusted  to  me,  I  should  conduct  it  with 
all  the  ability  required.  I  bowed  repeatedly  as  he  spoke,  and 
kept  my  hands  respectfully  before  me,  covered  with  the  border 
of  my  sleeve,  whilst  I  took  care  that  my  feet  were  also  com- 
pletely hid.  He  then  continued,  and  said,  "I  have  occasion 
for  a  person  of  your  description,  precisely  at  this  moment,  and 
as  I  put  great  confidence  in  the  recommendation  of  my  friend 
Asker,  it  is  my  intention  to  make  use  of  your  good  offices  :  and 
if  you  succeed  according  to  my  expectations,  you  may  rest  as- 
sured that  it  will  be  well  for  you,  and  tliat  I  shall  not  remain 
unmindful  of  your  services." 

Then  requesting  me  to  approach  nearer  to  him,  in  a  low 
and  confidential  tone  of  voice,  he  said,  looking  over  his  shoul- 
ders as  if  afraid  of  being  overheard;  "  Hajji,  you  must  know 
that  an  ambassador  from  the  Franks  is  lately  arrived  at  this 
court,  in  whose  suite  there  is  a  doctor.  This  infidel  has  already 
acquired  considerable  reputation  here.  He  treats  his  patients 
in  a  manner  quite  new  to  us,  and  has  arrived  with  a  chest  full 
of  medicines,  of  which  we  do  not  even  know  the  names.  He 
pretends  to  the  knowledge  of  a  great  many  things  of  which  we 
have  never  yet  heard  in  Persia.  He  makes  no  distinction  be- 
tween hot  and  cold  diseases,  and  hot  and  cold  remedies,  as 
Galenus  and  Avicenna  have  ordained,  but  gives  mercury  by 
way  of  a  cooling  medicine  ;  stabs  the  belly  with  a  sharp  instru- 


HAJJI    BABA    AND    THE    KINo's    PHYSICIAN.  99 

ment  for  wind  in  the  stomach  ;*  and,  wliat  is  worse  than  all, 
pretends  to  do  away  with  the  sniall-i)ox  altogether,  by  infnsing 
iato  our  nature  a  certain  extract  of  cow,  a  discovery  which  one 
of  their  philosophers  has  lately  made.  Now  this  will  never  do, 
riajji.  Tlie  small-pox  has  always  been  a  comfortable  source 
of  revenue  to  me.  I  cannot  afford  to  lose  it,  because  an  iniidel 
chooses  to  come  here  and  treat  us  like  cattle.  We  cannot  allow 
him  to  take  the  bread  out  of  our  mouths.  But  the  reason  why 
I  particularly  want  your  help  proceeds  from  the  following  cause. 
The  grand  vizier  Avas  taken  ill,  two  days  ago,  of  a  strange  un- 
easiness, after  having  eaten  more  than  his  usual  quantity  of  raw 
lettuce  and  cucumber,  steeped  in  vinegar  and  sugar.  This 
came  to  the  Frank  ambassador's  ears,  who,  in  fact,  was  present 
at  the  eating  of  the  lettuce,  and  he  immediately  sent  his  doc- 
tor to  him,  with  the  request  that  he  might  be  permitted  to 
administer  relief.  The  grand  vizier  and  the  ambassador,  it 
seems,  had  not  been  upon  good  terms  for  some  time,  because 
the  latter  was  very  urgent  tliat  some  demand  of  a  political  na- 
ture might  be  conceded  to  him,  which  the  vizier,  out  of  con- 
sideration for  the  interests  of  Persia,  was  obliged  to  deny  ;  and, 
therefore,  thinking  that  this  might  be  a  good  opportunity  of 
conciliating  the  infidel,  and  of  coming  to  a  compromise,  he 
agreed  to  accept  of  the  doctor's  services.  Had  I  been  apprised 
of  the  circumstance  in  time,  1  should  easily  have  managed  to 
put  a  stop  to  the  proceeding ;  but  the  doctor  did  not  lose  an 
instant  in  administering  his  medicine,  which,  I  hear,  only  con- 
sisted of  one  little  white  and  tasteless  pill.  From  all  accounts, 
and  as  ill  luck  would  have  it,  the  effect  it  has  produced  is  some- 
thing quite  marvelous.  The  grand  vizier  has  received  such 
relief,  that  he  can  talk  of  nothing  else ;  he  says,  '  that  he  felt 
the  pill  drawing  the  damp  from  the  very  tips  of  his  fingers  ;' 
and  that  now  he  has  discovered  in  himself  such  newness  of 
strength  and  energy,  that  he  laughs  at  his  old  age,  and  even 
talks  of  making  up  the  complement  of  wives  permitted  to  him 
by  our  blessed  Prophet.  But  the  mischief  has  not  stopped 
here ;  the  fame  of  this  medicine,  and  of  the  Frank  doctor,  has 
gone  throughout  the  court ;  and  the  first  thing  which  the  king 
talked  of  at  the  selam  (the  audience)  this  morning,  was  of  its 
miraculous  properties.  He  called  upon  the  grand  vizier  to 
repeat  to  hiin  all  that  he  had  before  said  upon  the  subject ;  and 
as  he  talked  of  the  wonders  that  it  had  produced  upon  his  per- 
son, a  general  murmar  of  applause  and  admiration  was  heard 

*  This  alludes  to  tapping  in  cases  of  dropsy;  an  operation  unknown  among 
the  Persians,  until  our  surgeons  taught  it  them. 


100  THE    ADVENTURES    OF    HAJJI    BABA. 

throughout  the  assembly.     His  majesty  then  turned  to  me,  and 

requested  me  to  explain  the  reason  why  such  great  effects 
should  proceed  from  so  small  a  cause,  when  I  was  obliged  to 
answer,  stooping  as  low  as  t  could  to  hide  my  confusion,  and 
kissing  the  earth — 'I  am  your  sacrifice:  0  king  of  kings,  I 
have  not  yet  seen  the  drug  which  the  infidel  doctor  has  given 
to  your  majesty's  servant,  the  grand  vizier ;  but  as  soon  as  I 
have,  I  will  inform  your  majesty  of  what  it  consists.  In  the 
meanwhile,  your  humble  slave  beseeches  the  Centre  of  the  Uni- 
verse to  recollect,  that  the  principal  agent,  on  this  occasion, 
must  be  an  evil  spirit,  an  enemy  to  the  true  faith,  since  he  is  an 
instrument  in  the  hands  of  an  infidel ;  of  one  who  calls  our  holy 
Prophet  a  cheat,  and  who  disowns  the  all-powerful  decrees  of 
predestination.' 

"  Having  said  this,  in  order  to  shake  his  growing  reputation, 
I  retired  in  deep  cogitation  how  I  might  get  at  the  secrets  of 
the  infidel,  and  particularly  inquire  into  the  nature  of  his  pre- 
scription, which  has  performed  such  miracles  ;  and  you  are  come 
most  opportunely  to  my  assistance.  You  must  Immediately 
become  acquainted  with  him ;  and  I  shall  leave  it  to  your  ad- 
dress to  pick  his  brain  and  worm  his  knowledge  out  of  him ; 
but  as  I  wish  to  procure  a  specimen  of  the  very  medicine  which 
he  administered  to  the  grand  vizier,  being  obliged  to  give  an 
account  of  it  to-morrow  to  the  Shah,  you  must  begin  your  ser- 
vices to  me  by  eating  much  of  lettuce  and  raw  cucumber,  and 
of  making  yourself  as  sick  to  the  full  as  his  highness  the  vizier. 
You  may  then  apply  to  the  Frank,  who  will,  doubtless,  give 
you  a  duplicate  of  the  celebrated  pill,  which  you  will  deliver 
over  to  me." 

"But,"  said  I,  v,-ho  had  rather  taken  fright  at  this  extra- 
ordinary proposal,  "how  shall  I  present  myself  before  a  man 
whom  I  do  not  know  ?  besides,  such  marvelous  stories  are  re- 
lated of  the  Europeans,  that  I  should  be  puzzled  in  what  man- 
ner to  behave  :  pray  give  me  some  instructions  how  to  act." 

"  Their  maimers  and  customs  are  totally  different  to  ours, 
that  is  true,"  replied  Mirza  Ahmak,  "and  you  may  form  some 
idea  of  them,  when  I  tell  you,  that  instead  of  shaving  their 
heads,  and  letting  their  beards  grow,  as  we  do,  they  do  the 
very  contrary,  for  not  a  vestige  of  hair  is  to  be  seen  on  their 
chins,  and  their  hair  is  as  thick  on  their  heads  as  if  they  had 
made  avow  never  to  cut  it  off:  then,  they  sit  on  little  plat- 
forms, whilst  we  squat  on  the  ground  ;  they  take  up  their  food 
with  claws  made  of  iron,  whilst  we  use  our  fingers  ;  they  are 
always  walking  about,  we  keep  seated ;  they  wear  tiglit  clothes, 
we  loose  ones ;  they  write  from  left  to  right,  we  from  right  to 


HAJJI    BABA    AND    THE    KING's    rnVSICIAX.  101 

left ;  they  never  pray,  we  five  times  a  day ;  in  short,  there  is  no 
end  to  what  might  he  reUxted  of  them ;  bat  most  certain  it  is, 
that  they  are  the  most  filthy  people  on  the  earth,  for  they  hold 
nothing  to  be  unclean ;  they  eat  all  sorts  of  animals,  from  a  pig 
to  a  tortoise,  without  the  least  scruple,  and  that  without  first 
cutting  their  throats  ;  they  will  dissect  a  dead  body,  without 
requiring  any  purification  after  it,  and  perform  all  the  brute 
functions  of  their  nature,  without  ever  thinking  it  necessary  to 
go  to  the  hot  bath,  or  even  rubbing  themselves  with  sand  after 
them." 

"And  is  it  true,"  said  I,  "that  they  are  so  irascible,  that  if 
perchance  their  word  is  doubted,  and  they  are  called  liars,  they 
will  fight  on  such  an  occasion  till  they  die  ?" 

"  That  is  also  said  of  them,"  answered  the  doctor  ;  "  but  the 
case  has  not  happened  to  me  yet ;  however,  I  must  warn  you 
of  one  thing,  which  is,  that  if  they  happen  to  admire  anything 
that  you  possess,  you  must  not  say  to  them,  as  you  would  to 
one  of  us,  "It  is  a  present  to  you;  it  is  your  property,"  lest 
tliey  should  take  you  at  your  word  and  keep  it,  which  you  know 
would  be  inconvenient,  and  not  what  you  intended  ;  but  you 
nmst  endeavor  as  much  as  possible  to  speak  what  you  think, 
for  that  is  what  they  like." 

"But  then,  if  such  is  the  case,"  said  I,  "do  not  you  think 
that  the  Frank  doctor  will  find  me  out  with  a  lie  in  my  mouth ; 
pretending  to  be  sick  when  I  am  well ;  asking  medicine  from 
him  for  myself,  when  I  want  it  for  another  ?" 

"No,  no,"  said  the  Mirza;  "you  are  to  be  sick,  really  sick, 
you  know,  and  then  it  will  be  no  lie.  Go,  Hajji,  my  friend," 
said  he,  putting  his  arm  round  my  neck  :  "go,  eat  your  cucum- 
bers immediately,  and  let  me  have  the  pill  by  this  evening." 
And  then  coaxing  me,  and  preventing  me  from  making  any 
farther  objections  to  his  unexpected  request,  he  gently  pushed 
me  out  of  the  room,  and  I  left  him,  scarcely  knowing  whether 
to  laugh  or  to  cry  at  the  new  posture  which  my  afl'airs  had 
taken.  To  sicken  without  any  stipulated  reward  was  what  I 
could  not  consent  to  do,  so  I  retraced  my  stejts,  with  a  deter- 
mination of  making  a  bargain  with  my  patron  ;  but,  when  I  got 
to  the  room,  he  was  no  longer  there,  having  apparently  re- 
treated into  his  harem ;  and,  therefore,  I  was  obliged  to  pro- 
ceed on  my  errand. 
.   9* 


CHAPTER  XX. 

■     HIS    SKILL    AS    A    NEGOTIATOR PILLS    AND    GOLD. 

I  INQUIRED  my  way  to  the  ambassador's  house,  and  actually 
set  off  with  the  intention  of  putting  the  doctor's  wishes  into 
execution,  and  getting,  if  possible,  a  writhing  disorder  on  the 
road  ;  but,  upon  more  mature  reflection,  I  recollected  that  a 
stomach-ache  was  not  a  marketable  commodity  which  might  be 
purchased  at  a  moment's  notice  ;  for  although  lettuce  and  cu- 
cumber might  disagree  with  an  old  grand  vizier,  yet  it  was  a 
hundred  to  one  but  they  would  find  an  easy  digestion  in  a 
young  person  like  me.  However,  I  determined  to  obtain  the 
pill  by  stratagem,  if  I  could  not  procure  it  in  a  more  direct 
manner.  I  considered  that  if  1  feigned  to  be  ill,  the  doctor 
would  very  probably  detect  me,  and  turn  me  out  of  his  house 
for  a  cheat,  so  I  preferred  the  easier  mode  of  passing  myself  off 
for  one  of  the  servants  of  the  royal  harem,  and  then  making  out 
some  story  by  which  I  might  attain  my  end.  I  accordingly 
stepped  into  one  of  the  old  clothes'  shops  in  the  bazaar,  and 
hired  a  cloak  for  myself,  such  as  the  scribes  wear  ;  and  then 
substituting  a  roll  of  paper  in  ray  girdle  instead  of  a  dagger,  I 
flattered  myself  that  I  might  pass  for  something  more  than  a 
common  servant. 

I  soon  found  out  where  the  ambassador  dwelt.  Bearing  in 
mind  all  that  Mirza  Ahmak  had  told  me,  I  rather  approached 
the  door  of  the  doctor's  residence  with  fear  and  hesitation.  I 
found  the  avenues  to  it  crowded  with  poor  women,  bearing  in- 
fants in  their  arms,  who,  I  was  told,  came  to  receive  the  new- 
fashioned  preservative  against  the  small-pox.  This,  it  was  sup- 
posed for  political  reasons,  the  Pranks  were  anxious  to  promote  ; 
and,  as  the  doctor  performed  the  operation  gratis,  he  had  no 
lack  of  patients,  particularly  of  the  poorer  sort,  who  could  not 
approach  a  Persian  doctor  without  a  present,  or  a  good  fee  in 
their  hand. 

On  entering,  I  found  a  man  seated  in  the  middleof  the.  room, 
near  an  elevated  wooden  platform,  upon  which  were  piled 
boxes,  books,  and  a  variety  of  iustruraents  and  utensils,  the 
uses  of  which  were  unknown  to  me.  He  was  in  dress  and  ap- 
pearance the  most  extraordinary  looking  infidel  I  had  ever  seen. 
(102) 


HIS    SKILL    AS    A    NEGOTIATOR — PILLS    AND    GOLD.  103 

His  cliin  and  upper  lip  were  without  the  vestige  of  a  hair  upon 
them,  as  like  a  eunuch  as  possible.  He  kept  his  head  most  dis- 
respectfully uncovered,  and  wore  a  tight  bandage  round  his 
neck,  with  other  contrivances  on  the  sides  of  his  cheeks,  as  if 
he  were  anxious  to  conceal  some  wound  or  disease.  His  clotlies 
were  fitted  so  tight  to  his  body,  and  his  outward  coat  in  parti- 
cular was  cut  off  at  such  sharp  angles,  that  it  was  evident  cloth 
was  a  scarce  and  dear  commodity  in  his  country.  The  lower 
part  of  his  dress  was  particularly  improper,  and  he  kept  his 
boots  on  in  his  room,  without  any  consideration  for  the  car})et 
he  was  treading  upon,  which  struck  me  as  a  custom  subversive 
of  all  decorum. 

I  found  that  he  talked  our  language  ;  for,  as  soon  as  he  saw 
me,  he  asked  me  how  I  did,  and  then  immediately  remarked 
that  it  was  a  fine  day,  which  was  so  self-evident  a  truth,  that  I 
immediately  agreed  to  it.  I  then  thought  it  necessary  to  make 
him  some  fine  speeches,  and  flattered  him  to  the  best  of  my 
abilities,  informing  him  of  the  great  reputation  he  had  already 
acquired  in  Persia ;  that  Locman  was  a  fool  when  compared  to 
one  of  his  wisdom  ;  and  that  as  for  his  contemporaries,  the  Per- 
sian physicians,  they  were  not  fit  to  handle  his  pestle  for  him. 
To  all  this  he  said  nothing.  I  then  told  him  that  the  king 
himself,  having  heard  of  the  wonderful  effects  of  his  medicine 
upon  the  person  of  his  grand  vizier,  had  ordered  his  historian 
to  insert  the  circumstance  in  the  annals  of  the  empire,  as  one 
of  the  most  extraordinary  events  of  his  reign — that  a  considera- 
ble sensation  had  been  produced  in  his  majesty's  seraglio,  for 
many  of  the  ladies  had  immediately  been  taken  ill,  and  were 
longing  to  make  a  trial  of  his  skill — that  the  king's  favorite 
Georgian  slave  was,  in  fact,  at  this  moment  in  great  pain — that 
I  had  been  deputed  by  the  chief  eunuch,  owing  to  a  special 
order  from  his  majesty,  to  procure  medicine  similar  to  that 
which  the  first  minister  had  taken — and  I  concluded  ray  speech 
by  requesting  the  doctor  immediately  to  furnish  me  with 
some. 

He  seemed  to  ponder  over  what  I  had  told  him  ;  and  after 
reflecting  a  short  time,  said  that  it  was  not  his  custom  to  ad- 
minister medicine  to  his  patients  without  first  seeing  them,  for 
by  so  doing  he  would  probably  do  more  harm  than  good  ;  but 
that  if  he  found  that  the  slave  was  in  want  of  his  aid,  he  should 
be  very  happy  to  attend  her. 

I  a,nswered  to  this,  that  as  to  seeing  the  face  of  the  Georgian 
slave,  that  was  totally  out  of  the  question,  for  no  man  ever  was 
allowed  that  liberty  in  Persia,  excepting  her  husband.  In  cases 
of  extreme  necessity,  perhaps  a  doctor  might  l^e  permitted  to 


104  TnE    ADVENTURES    OF    IIAJJI    BAB  A. 

feel  a  woman's  pulse,  but  then  it  must  be  done  when  a  veil  co- 
vers the  hand. 

To  which  the  Frank  replied,  "in  order  to  judge  of  my  pa- 
tient's case  I  must  not  only  feel  the  pulse,  but  see  the  tongue 
also." 

"  Looking  at  the  tongne  is  totally  new  in  Persia,"  said  I ; 
"  and  I  am  sure  you  could  never  be  indulged  with  such  a  sight 
in  the  seraglio  without  a  special  order  from  the  king  himself; 
a  eunuch  would  rather  cut  out  his  own  tongue  first." 

"Well,  then,"  said  the  doctor,  "recollect,  that  if  I  deliver 
my  medicine  to  you,  I  do  so  without  taking  any  responsibility 
upon  myself  for  its  effects  ;  for  if  it  does  not  cure  it  may  per- 
haps kill." 

When  I  had  assured  him  that  no  harm  or  prejudice  could 
possibly  accrue  to  him,  he  opened  a  large  chest,  which  appeared 
to  be  full  of  drugs,  and  taking  therefrom  the  smallest  quantity 
of  a  certain  white  powder,  he  mixed  it  up  with  some  bread, 
into  the  form  of  a  pill,  and  putting  it  into  paper  gave  it  to  me, 
with  proper  directions  how  it  should  be  administered.  Seeing 
that  he  made  no  mystery  of  his  knowledge,  I  began  to  question 
him  upon  the  nature  and  properties  of  this  particular  medicine, 
and  upon  his  practice  in  general.  He  answered  me  without  any 
reserve ;  not  like  our  Persian  doctors,  who  only  make  a  parade 
of  fine  words,  and  who  adjust  every  ailment  that  comes  before 
them  to  what  they  read  in  their  Galen,  their  Hippocrates,  and 
their  Abou  Avicenna. 

When  I  had  learned  all  I  could,  I  left  him  with  great  de- 
monstrations of  friendship  and  thaidifuluess,  and  immediately 
returned  to  Mirza  Ahmak,  who  doubtless  was  waiting  for  me 
with  great  impatience.  Having  divested  myself  of  my  borrowed 
cloak  and  resumed  my  own  dress,  I  appeared  before  him  with 
a  face  made  up  for  the  occasion,  for  I  wished  to  make  him  be- 
lieve that  the  lettuce  and  cucumbers  had  done  their  duty.  At 
every  word  I  pretended  to  receive  a  violent  twitch,  and  acted 
ray  part  so  true  to  Jife,  that  the  stern  and  inflexible  nature  of 
Mirza  Ahmak  himself  was  moved  into  somewhat  like  pity 
for  me. 

"  There  I  there  !"  said  I,  as  I  entered  his  apartment,  "in  the 
name  of  Allah  take  your  prize  ;"  and  then  pretending  to  be 
bent  double,  I  made  the  most  horrid  grimaces,  and  uttered  deep 
groans  :  "there  !  I  have  followed  your  orders,  and  now  throw 
myself  upon  your  generosity."  He  endeavored  to  take  the  ob- 
ject of  his  search  from  me,  but  I  kept  it  fast ;  and  whilst  I  gave 
him  to  understand  that  I  expected  prompt  reward,  I  made  in- 
dications of  an  intention  to  swallow  it,  unless  he  actually  gave 


HIS  SKILL    AS    A    NEGOTIATOR PILLS    AND    GOLD.  105 

me  something  in  hand.  So  fearful  was  he  of  not  being  able  to 
answer  the  king's  interrogatories  concerning  the  pill,  so  anxious 
to  get  it  into  his  possession,  that  he  actually  pressed  a  gold 
piece  upon  mc.  No  lover  could  sue  his  mistress  with  more 
earnestness  to  grant  him  a  favor  than  the  doctor  did  rae  for  my 
pill.  I  should  very  probably  have  continued  the  deceit  a  little 
longer,  and  have  endeavored  to  extract  another  piece  from  him  : 
but  when  I  saw  him  preparing  a  dose  of  his  own  mixture  to 
ease  my  pain,  I  thought  it  high  time  to  finish,  and  pretending 
all  of  a  sudden  to  have  received  relief,  I  gave  up  my  prize. 

When  once  he  had  got  possession,  he  looked  at  it  with  intense 
eagerness,  and  turned  it  over  and  over  on  his  palm,  without 
appearing  one  whit  more  advanced  in  his  knowledge  than  before. 
At  length,  after  permitting  him  fully  to  exhaust  his  conjectures, 
I  told  him  that  the  Frank  doctor  had  made  no  secret  in  saying 
that  it  was  composed  o^jivch,  or  mercury.  "  Mercury,  indeed  !" 
exclaimed  Mirza  Ahmak — "just  as  if  I  did  not  know  that.  And 
so,  because  this  infidel,  this  dog  of  an  Isauvi,^  chooses  to 
poison  us  with  mercury,  I  am  to  lose  my  reputation,  and  my 
prescriptions  (such  as  his  father  never  even  saw  in  a  dream)  are 
to  be  turned  into  ridicule.  Whoever  heard  of  mercury  as  a 
medicine  ?  Mercury  is  cold,  and  lettuce  and  cucumber  are  cold 
also.  You  would  not  apply  ice  to  dissolve  ice  ?  The  ass  does 
not  know  the  first  rudiments  of  his  profession.  No,  Hajji,  this 
will  never  do  :  we  must  not  permit  our  beards  to  be  laughed  at 
in  this  manner." 

He  continued  to  inveigh  for  a  considerable  time  against  his 
rival ;  and  would,  no  doubt,  have  continued  to  do  so  much 
longer,  but  he  was  stopped  by  a  message  from  the  king,  who 
ordered  him  to  repair  forthwith  to  his  presence.  In  the 
greatest  trepidation  he  immediately  put  himself  into  his  court 
dress,  exchanged  his  common  black  lamb's  skin  cap  for  one 
wound  about  with  a  shawl,  huddled  on  his  red  cloth  stockings, 
called  for  his  horse,  and,  taking  the  pill  with  him,  went  off  in 
a  great  hurry,  and  full  of  the  greatest  apprehension  at  v;hat  might 
be  the  result  of  the  audience. 

■•■  Inauvi,  a  follovrer  of  Jesus. 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

HOW    THE    SHAH    OF    PERSIA    TAKES    MEDICINE. 

The  doctor's  visit  to  the  king  had  taken  place  late  in  the 
evening ;  and  as  soon  as  he  returned  from  it  he  called  for  me. 
I  found  him  apparently  in  great  agitation,  and  full  of  anxiety. 
"  Hajji,"  said  he,  when  I  appeared,  "come  close  to  me  ;"  and 
having  sent  every  one  else  out  of  the  room,  he  said  in  a  whisper, 
"this  infidel  doctor  must  be  disposed  of  somehow  or  other. 
What  do  you  think  has  happened?  The  Shah  has  consulted 
him  ;  he  had  him  in  private  conference  for  an  hour  this  morning, 
without  my  being  apprised  of  it.  His  majesty  sent  for  me  to 
tell  me  its  result ;  and  I  perceive  that  the  Frank  has  already 
gained  great  influence.  It  seems  that  the  king  gave  him  the 
history  of  his  complaints — of  his  debility,  of  his  old  asthma, 
and  of  his  imperfect  digestion,  but  talked  in  raptures  of  the 
wretch's  sagacity  and  penetration  ;  for  merely  by  looking  at  the 
tongue  and  feeling  the  pulse,  before  the  infidel  was  told  what 
was  the  state  of  the  case,  he  asked  whether  his  majesty*  did  not 
use  the  hot  baths  very  frequently ;  whether,  when  he  smoked, 
he  did  not  immediately  bring  on  a  fit  of  coughing  ;  and  whether, 
in  his  food,  he  was  not  particularly  addicted  to  pickles,  sweet- 
meats, and  rice  swimming  in  butter?  The  king  has  given 
him  three  days  to  consider  his  case,  to  consult  his  books,  and 
to  gather  the  opinions  of  the  Frank  sages  on  subjects  so  im- 
portant to  the  state  of  Persia,  and  to  compose  such  a  medicine 
as  M'ill  entirely  restore  and  renovate  his  constitution.  The 
Centre  of  the  Universe  then  asked  my  opinion,  and  requested 
me  to  speak  boldly  upon  the  natures  and  properties  of  Franks  in 
general,  and  of  their  medicines.  I  did  not  lose  this  opportunity 
of  giving  utterance  to  my  sentiments  ;  so,  after  the  usual  preface 
to  my  speech,  I  said,  "that  as  to  their  natures,  the  Shah,  in  his 
profound  wisdom,  must  know,  that  they  were  an  unbelieving 
and  an  unclean  race  ;  for  that  they  treated  our  Prophet  as  a 
cheat,  and  eat  pork  and  drank  wine  without  any  scruple  ;  that 
they  were  women  in  looks,  and  in  manners  bears  ;  that  they 
ought  to  be  held  in  the  greatest  suspicion,  for  their  ultimate 

■•■■  This  is  the  most  approved  form  of  speech  among  well  educated  Persians, 
whenever  any  allusion  to  the  mysteries  of  the  harem  is  intended. 

(106) 


HOW    THE    SIIAU    OF    PERSIA    TAKKS    MEDICINE.  Id 

object  (see  what  they  had  done  in  India)  was  to  take  kingdoms, 
and  to  make  Shalis  and  Nabobs  their  humble  servants.  As  to 
their  medicines,"  I  exclaimed,  "  Heaven  preserve  yonr  majesty 
from  them  !  they  are  just  as  treacherous  in  their  effects  as  the 
Franks  are  in  their  politics  : — with  what  we  give  to  procure 
death,  they  pretend  to  work  their  cures.  Their  principal 
ingredient  is  mercury;  (and  here  I  produced  my  pill ;)  and  they 
use  their  instruments  and  knives  so  freely,  that  I  have  heard  it 
said  they  will  cut  off  a  man's  limbs  to  save  his  life."  I  then 
drew  such  a  picture  of  the  fatal  effects  likely  to  proceed  from 
the  foreign  prescription,  that  I  made  the  Shah  promise  that  he 
would  not  take  it  without  using  every  precaution  that  his  prudence 
and  wisdom  might  suggest.  To  this  he  consented  ;  and  as  soon 
as  the  Frank  shall  have  sent  in  the  medicine  which  he  is  pre- 
paring, I  shall  be  summoned  to  another  interview.  Now,  Hajji," 
added  the  doctor,  "  the  Shah  must  not  touch  the  infidel's  ph_ysic  ; 
for  if  perchance  it  were  to  do  good,  I  am  a  lost  man.  Who 
will  ever  consult  Mirza  Ahmak  again  ?  No,  we  must  avert  the ' 
occurrence  of  such  an  event,  even  if  I  were  obliged  to  take  all  his 
drugs  myself." 

We  parted  with  mutual  promises  of  doing  everything  in  our 
power  to  thwart  the  infidel  doctor;  and  three  days  after  Mirza 
Ahmak  was  again  called  before  the  king  in  order  to  inspect 
the  promised  ordonnance,  and  which  consisted  of  a  box  of  pills. 
He,  of  course,  created  all  sorts  of  suspicions  against  their 
efficacy,  threw  out  some  dark  hints  about  the  danger  of  receiv- 
ing any  drug  from  the  agent  of  a  foreign  power,  and,  finally,  left 
the  Shah  in  the  determination  of  referring  the  case  to  his 
ministers.  The  next  day,  at  the  usual  public  audience,  when 
the  Shah  was  seated  on  his  throne,  and  surrounded  by  his 
prime  vizier,  his  lord  high  treasurer,  his  minister  for  the  interior, 
his  principal  secretary  of  state,  his  lord  chamberlain,  his  master 
of  the  horse,  his  principal  master  of  the  ceremonies,  his  doctor 
in  chief,  and  many  other  of  the  great  officers  of  his  household, 
addressing  himself  to  his  grand  vizier,  he  stated  the  negotia- 
tions which  he  had  entered  into  with  the  foreign  physician, 
now  resident  at  his  court,  for  the  restoration  and  the  renova- 
tion of  the  royal  person ;  that  at  the  first  conference,  the  said 
foreign  physician,  after  a  due  inspection  of  the  royal  person, 
had  reported  that  there  existed  several  symptoms  of  debility. 
That  at  the  second,  after  assuring  the  Shah  that  he  had  for 
three  whole  days  employed  himself  in  consulting  his  books  and 
records,  and  gathering  from  them  tlie  opinions  of  his  own 
country  sages  on  the  subject,  he  had  combined  the  properties 
of  various  drugs  into   one  whole,  which,  if  taken   interiorly. 


108  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

would  prodnce  effects  so  wonderful,  tbatno  talisman  could  come 
in  competition  with  it.  His  majesty  then  said,  that  he  had 
called  into  his  councils  his  Hakim  Bashi,  or  head  physician,  who, 
in  his  anxiety  for  the  weal  of  the  Persian  monarchy,  had  deeply 
pondered  over  the  ordonnances  of  the  foreigner,  and  had  set 
his  face  against  them,  owing  to  certain  doubts  and  apprehen- 
sions that  had  crept  into  his  mind,  which  consisted,  1st, 
whether  it  were  politic  to  deliver  over  the  internal  administra- 
tion of  the  royal  person  to  foreign  regulations  and  ordonnances; 
and,  2d,  whether,  in  the  remedy  prescribed,  there  might  not 
exist  such  latent  and  destructive  effects,  as  would  endanger, 
undermine,  and,  finally,  overthrow  that  royal  person  and  con- 
stitution, which  it  was  supposed  to  be  intended  to  restore  and 
renovate.  "Under  these  circumstances,"  said  the  Centre  of 
the  Universe,  raising  his  voice  at  the  time,  "  I  have  thought  it 
advisable  to  pause  before  I  proceeded  in  this  business  ;  and 
have  resolved  to  lay  the  cause  before  you,  in  order  that  you 
may,  in  your  united  wisdoms,  frame  such  an  opinion  as  may  be 
fitting  to  be  placed  before  the  king:  and  in  order  that  you  may 
go  into  the  subject  with  a  complete  knowledge  of  the  case,  I 
have  resolved,  as  a  preparatory  act,  that  each  of  you,  in  your 
own  persons,  shall  partake  of  this  medicine,  in  order  that  both 
you  and  I  may  judge  of  its  various  effects." 

To  this  most  gracious  speech  the  grand  vizier  and  all  the 
courtiers  made  exclamations,  "  May  the  king  live  for  ever! 
May  the  royal  shadow  never  be  less  !  We  are  happy  not  only 
to  take  physic,  but  to  lay  down  our  lives  in  your  majesty's 
service  !  We  are  your  sacrifice,  your  slaves  !  May  God  give 
the  Shah  health,  and  a  victory  over  all  his  enemies  !"  Upon 
which,  the  chief  of  the  valets  was  ordered  to  bring  the  foreign 
physician's  box  of  pills  from  the  harem,  and  delivered  it  to  the 
Shah,  in  a  golden  salver.  His  majesty  then  ordered  the  Hakim 
Bashi  to  approach,  and  delivering  the  box  to  him,  ordered  him 
to  go  round  to  all  present,  beginning  with  the  prime  vizier,  and 
then  to  every  man  according  to  his  rank,  administering  to  each 
a  pill. 

This  being  done,  the  whole  assembly  took  the  prescribed 
gulp  ;  after  which  ensued  a  general  pause,  during  which  the 
king  looked  carefully  into  each  man's  face  to  mark  the  first 
effects  of  the  medicine.  When  the  wry  faces  had  subsided,  the 
conversation  took  a  turn  upon  the  affairs  of  Europe ;  upon 
which  his  majesty  asked  a  variety  of  questions,  which  were 
answered  by  the  different  persons  present  in  the  best  manner 
they  were  able. 

The  medicine  now  gradually  began  to  show  its  effects.     The 


HOW    THE    SHAH    OF    PEKSIA    TAKES    MEDICINE.  109 

lord  high  treasurer  first,  a  large,  coarse  man,  who  to  this  mo- 
ment had  stood  immovable,  merely  saying,  heJli,  helU,  yes,  yes, 
whenever  his  majesty  opened  his  mouth  to  speak,  now  appeared 
uneasy,  for  what  he  had  swallowed  had  brought  into  action  a 
store  of  old  complaints  which  were  before  lying  dormant.  The 
eyes  of  all  had  1)cen  directed  towards  him,  which  had  much  in- 
creased his  pertur])ed  state  ;  when  the  chief  secretary  of  state, 
a  tall,  thin,  lathy  man,  turned  deadly  pale,  and  began  to  stream 
from  every  pore.  He  was  followed  by  the  minister  for  the  in- 
terior, whose  unhappy  looks  seemed  to  supplicate  a  permission 
from  his  majesty  to  quit  his  august  presence.  All  the  rest  in 
succession  were  moved  in  various  ways,  except  the  prime  vizier, 
a  little  old  man,  famous  for  a  hard  and  unyielding  nature,  and 
who  appeared  to  be  laughing  in  his  sleeve  at  the  misery  which 
his  compeers  in  office  were  undergoing. 

As  soon  as  the  Shah  perceived  that  the  medicine  had  taken 
effect,  he  dismissed  the  assembly,  ordering  Mirza  Ahmak,  as 
soon  as  he  could  ascertain  the  history  of  each  pill,  to  give  him 
an  official  report  of  the  whole  transaction,  and  then  retired  into 
his  harem. 

The  crafty  old  doctor  had  now  his  rival  within  his  power ; 
of  course,  he  set  the  matter  in  such  a  light  before  the  king,  that 
his  majesty  was  deterred  from  making  the  experiment  of  the 
foreign  physician's  ordonnance,  and  it  was  forthwith  consigned 
to  oblivion.  When  he  next  saw  me,  and  after  he  had  made  me 
acquainted  with  the  preceding  narrative,  he  could  not  restrain 
his  joy  and  exultation.  "We  have  conquered,  friend  llajji," 
he  would  say  to  me.  "  The  infidel  thought  tliat  we  were  fools ; 
but  we  will  teach  him  what  Persians  are.  AVhose  dog  is  he, 
that  he  should  aspire  to  so  high  an  honor  as  prescribing  for  a 
king  of  kings  ?  No,  that  is  left  to  such  men  as  I.  What  do 
we  care  about  his  new  discoveries  ?  As  our  fathers  did,  so  are 
we  contented  to  do.  The  prescription  that  cured  our  ances- 
tors shall  cure  us;  and  what  Locman  and  Abou  Avicenna  or- 
dained, we  may  be  satisfied  to  ordain  after  them."  lie  then 
dismissed  me,  to  make  fresh  plans  for  destroying  any  influence 
or  credit  that  the  new  physician  might  acquire,  and  for  pre- 
serving his  own  consequence  and  reputation  at  court. 
10 


CHAPTER  XXir. 

THE    doctor's    salary. 

I  HAD  thus  far  lived  with  the  doctor  more  as  a  friend  than  as 
a  servant ;  for  he  permitted  me  to  sit  in  his  presence,  to  eat 
with  him,  and  even  to  smoke  his  pipe,  whilst  at  the  same  time 
I  associated  with  his  servants,  eat,  drank,  and  smoked  with 
them  also  ;  bnt  I  found  that  this  sort  of  life  in  nowise  suited 
my  views  and  expectations.  The  only  money  which  I  had  re- 
ceived from  him  was  the  gold  coin  afore-mentioned,  for  which 
I  was  indebted  to  my  own  ingenuity;  and,  as  things  went,  it 
appeared  that  it  would  be  the  last.  I  was  therefore  resolved 
to  come  to  an  explanation  with  him,  and  accordingly  seized 
the  opportunity  when  he  was  elated  with  his  success  over  the 
European  doctor,  to  open  the  subject  of  my  grievances. 

He  had  just  returned  from  the  imperial  gate,  after  having 
seen  the  Shah ;.  who,  by  his  account,  had  been  very  gracious 
to  him,  having  kept  him  standing  without  his  shoes  only  two 
honrs,  by  the  side  of  a  stone  fountain,  instead  of  six,  which  he 
generally  does.  "  What  a  good  king  he  is  !"  he  exclaimed, 
"how  affable,  how  considerate!  It  is  impossible  to  say  how 
much  kindness  he  shows  to  me.  He  gave  abuse  to  the 
European  doctor,  all  out  of  compliment  to  my  abilities,  and 
said  he  is  not  fit  to  hold  my  shoes.  He  then  ordered  his 
favorite  running  footman  to  bring  me  a  present  of  two  par- 
tridges, which  where  caught  by  the  royal  hawks." 

I  observed,  "  Yes,  the  king  says  true.  Who  is  your  equal 
now-a-days  in  Persia  ?  Happy  Shah  !  to  possess  such  a  trea- 
sure. What  arc  the  Franks,  that  they  should  talk  of  medicine  ? 
If  they  want  learning,  science,  and  skill,  let  them  look  to 
Mirza  Ahmak." 

Upon  this,  with  a  smile  of  self-complacency,  he  took  the 
pipe  from  his  own  mouth  and  gave  it  to  me,  pulled  up  his 
moustaches,  and  stroked  his  beard. 

"  InshallaJi !  may  it  please  God,"  I  continued  to  say,  "that 
I  also  may  share  in  the  glory  of  your  reputation  ;  but  I  am 
like  a  dog,  I  am  nothing,  I  am  not  even  like  the  piece  of  clay, 
which  was  scented  by  the  company  of  the  rose." 

"  How  I"  said  the  doctor  ;   "  why  are  you  out  of  spirits  ?" 

"  I  will  leave  you  to  judge,  and  relate  a  story,"  said  I. 
(110) 


r 


THE    doctor's    salary.  Ill 

"  Once  npon  a  time  there  was  a  dog,  who  in  look  and  man- 
ners was  so  like  a  wolf,  that  the  wolves  used  to. admit  him  into 
their  society.  He  ate,  drank,  and  killed  sheep  with  them,  and, 
in  short,  was  everything  that  a  wolf  ought  to  be  ;  at  the  same 
time,  he  lived  with  his  fellow  dogs  like  a  dog,  and  was  admitted 
to  all  their  parties.  But,  little  by  little,  the  dogs  perceived 
that  he  associated  with  wolves,  and  became  shy  of  him  ;  and  it 
also  happened  that  the  wolves  discovered  that  he  was  in  fact  a 
dog,  and  did  not  like  to  admit  him  any  longer  into  their 
circles ;  so  between  both,  the  poor  dog  became  neglected  and 
miserable ;  and,  unable  to  bear  liis  undefined  state  any  longer, 
he  determined  to  make  a  decided  effort  to  become  either  a  dog 
or  a  wolf.  I  am  that  dog  !"  exclaimed  I  :  "you  permit  me  to 
sit  and  smoke  with  you,  who  are  so  much  my  superior ;  you 
talk  to  and  consult  me,  and  I  am  even  admitted  to  the  society 
of  your  friends  ;  but  what  does  that  benefit  me  ?  I  am  still  a 
servant,  without  enjoying  any  of  the  advantages  of  one  ;  I  get 
nothing.  I  pray  you  therefore  to  appoint  me  to  the  situation 
you  wish  me  to  hold  in  your  service,  and  to  fix  a  salary  upon 
me." 

"A  salary  indeed  !"  exclaimed  the  doctor;  "I  never  give 
salaries.  My  servants  get  what  they  can  from  my  patients,  and- 
you  may  do  the  same  ;  they  eat  the  remains  of  my  dinner,  and 
they  receive  a  coat  at  the  festival  of  the  No  Rnz — what  can 
they  want  more  ?"  At  this  moment  entered  the  Shah's  running- 
footman,  bearing  in  his  hands  a  silver  tray,  upon  which  were 
placed  the  two  partridges  that  his  majesty  had  presented  to  the 
doctor,  and  which  in  great  form  he  gave  into  his  hands,  who, 
rising  from  his  seat,  carried  the  tray  to  his  head,  and  exclaimed, 
"  May  the  king's  kindness  never  be  less  ! — may  his  wealth  in- 
crease, and  may  he  live  for  ever  !" 

He  then  was  called  upon  to  make  the  bearer  a  present.  He 
sent  first  five  piastres,*  which  the  servant  returned  with  great 
indignation.  He  then  sent  one  tomaun  :  this  also  was  sent 
back,  until  at  length  in  despair  he  sent  five  tomauns,  which  it 
was  intimated,  was  the  sum  proper  to  be  given.  This  disa- 
greeable circumstance  dissipfited  all  the  pleasure  which  such  a 
present  had  produced,  and  the  Hakim,  in  his  rage,  permitted 
himself  to  use  expressions,  which,  if  reported  to  the  king, 
would  have  brought  him  into  considerable  trouble.  "  A  pre- 
sent, indeed  !"  said  he  ;  "  I  wish  such  presents  were  in  the 
other  world  !  'Tis  thus  we  pay  the  wages  of  the  king's  ser- 
vants— a  set  of  rapacious  rascals,  without  either  shame  or  con- 

*•  A  piastre  is  about  two  shillings. 


112  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

science !  And  the  worst  of  it  is,  we  must  pay  them  handsomely, 
or  else  whenever  it  happens  that  I  get  the  bastinado  on  the 
soles  of  my  feet,  which  come  it  will,  they,  who  perform  the  ope- 
ration, will  show  me  no  mercy.  Let  me  not  forget  what  Saadi 
says,  that  you  can  no  more  depend  upon  the  friendship  of  a 
king  than  you  can  upon  the  voice  of  a  child ;  because  the  for- 
mer changes  on  the  slighest  suspicion,  the  latter  in  the  course 
of  a  night." 

Upon  this  reflection,  the  doctor  began  to  be  alarmed  at  what 
he  had  said  at  the  outset  of  his  speech ;  and,  with  all  the  ter- 
rors of  the  feiek  befoi'e  him,  he  seemed  quite  reconciled  to  the 
loss  of  his  five  tomauns. 

I  found  that  this  would  not  be  the  best  moment  to  resume  the 
subject  of  ray  expectations,  and  therefore  reserved  it  for  some 
future  opportunity ;  but  I  had  heard  enough  to  settle  in  my 
own  mind,  tliat  I  would  leave  the  Locraan  of  the  age  whenever 
an  opportunity  should  offer,  and  for  the  present  to  content  my- 
self with  being  neither  dog  nor  wolf. 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 


FALLS    IN    LOVE. 


Discontented  with  my  present  lot,  and  uncertain  as  to  my 
future  prospects,  my  days  passed  on  in  total  idleness ;  and  as  I 
had  no  inclination  to  pursue  the  profession  of  physic,  which 
many  before  me  had  done  quite  on  as  slender  a  foundation  as 
the  one  I  had  acquired,  I  cared  little  for  those  pursuits  which 
engaged  Mirza  Ahmak.  I  should  very  probably  have  left  hira 
instantly,  if  a  circumstance  had  not  occurred,  arising  from  the 
very  state  of  unprofitableness  in  which  I  lived,  which  detained 
me  in  his  house.  The  feelings  to  which  it  gave  rise  so  entirely 
absorbed  every  other  consideration,  that  I  became  their  slave; 
and  so  violent  were  the  emotions  which  they  created,  that  I 
verily  believe  that  Majnoun,  in  the  height  of  his  phrensy,  could 
not  have  been  madder  than  I.  After  this,  it  is  needless  to 
mention  that  I  was  in  love. 

The  spring  had  passed  over,  and  the  first  heats  of  summer, 
which  now  began  to  make  themselves  felt,  had  driven  most  of 
the  inhabitants  of  the  city  to  spread  their  beds  and  sleep  on  the 
house-tops.    As  I  did  not  like  to  pass  my  night  in  company  of 


FALLS    IX    LOVE.  118 

the  servants,  the  carpet-spreaders  and  the  cook,  who  generally 
herded  together  in  a  room  below,  I  extended  my  bed  in  a  cor- 
ner of  the  terrace,  which  overlooked  the  inner  court  of  the  doc- 
tor's house,  in  which  were  situated  the  apartments  of  the 
women.  This  court  was  a  square,  into  which  the  windows  of 
the  different  chambers  looked,  and  was  planted  in  the  centre 
with  rose-bushes,  jessamines,  and  poplar  trees,  A  square 
wooden  platform  was  erected  in  the  middle,  upon  which  mat- 
tresses were  spread,  where  the  inhabitants  reposed  during  the 
great  heats.  I  had  seen  several  women  seated  in  different  parts 
of  the  court,  but  had  never  been  particularly  struck  by  the  ap- 
pearance of  any  one  of  them  ;  and  indeed  had  I  been  so,  per- 
haps I  should  never  have  thought  of  looking  at  them  again  ;  for 
as  soon  as  I  was  discovered,  shouts  of  abuse  were  leveled  at 
me,  and  I  was  called  by  every  odious  name  that  they  could  de- 
vise. 

One  night,  however,  soon  after  the  sun  had  set,  as  I  was  pre- 
paring my  bed,  I  perchance  looked  over  a  part  of  the  wall  that 
was  a  little  broken  down,  and  on  a  slip  of  terrace  that  was  close 
under  it  I  discovered  a  female,  who  was  employed  in  assorting 
and  spreading  out  tobacco-leaves.  Her  blue  veil  was  negli- 
gently thrown  over  her  head,  and  as  she  stooped,  the  two  long 
tresses  which  flowed  from  her  forehead  hung  down  in  so  tanta- 
lizing a  manner  as  nearly  to  screen  all  her  face,  but  still  left  so 
much  of  it  visible,  that  it  created  an  intense  desire  in  me  to 
see  the  remainder.  Everything  that  I  saw  in  her  announced 
beauty.  Iler  hands  were  small,  and  dyed  with  khenna  ;  her 
feet  were  equally  small ;  and  her  whole  air  and  form  bespoke 
loveliness  and  grace.  I  gazed  upon  her  until  T  could  no  longer 
contain  my  passion  ;  I  made  a  slight  noise,  which  immediately 
caused  her  to  look  up,  and  before  she  could  cover  herself  with 
her  veil,  I  had  had  time  to  see  the  most  enchanting  features 
that  the  imagination  can  conceive,  and  to  receive  a  look  from 
eyes  so  bewitching,  that  I  immediately  felt  my  heart  in  a  blaze. 
With  apparent  displeasure  she  covered  herself;  but  still  I  could 
perceive  that  she  had  managed  her  veil  with  so  much  art,  that 
there  was  room  for  a  certain  dark  and  sparkling  eye  to  look  at 
me,  and  to  enjoy  my  agitation.  As  I  continued  to  gaze  upon 
her,  she  at  length  said,  though  still  going  on  with  her  work, 
"  why  do  you  look  at  me?     It  is  criminal." 

"  For  the  sake  of  the  sainted  Hosien,"  I  exclaimed,  "  do  not 
turn  from  me  ;  it  is  no  crime  to  love  ;  your  eyes  have  made 
roast  meat  of  my  heart;  by  the  mother  that  bore  you,  let  me 
look  in  your  face  again." 

In  a  more  subdued  voice  she  answered  me,  "  Why  do  you  ask 
10* 


114      '      THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

me  ?  You  know  it  is  a  crime  for  a  woman  to  let  her  face  be 
seen  ;  and  you  are  neither  my  father,  ray  brother,  nor  my  hus- 
band ;  I  do  not  even  know  who  you  are.  Have  you  no  shame, 
to  talk  thus  to  a  maid." 

At  this  moment  she  let  her  veil  fall,  as  if  by  chance,  and  I 
had  time  to  look  again  upon  her  face,  which  was  even  more 
beautiful  than  I  had  imagined.  Her  eyes  were  large  and  pecu- 
liarly black,  and  fringed  by  long  lashes,  which,  aided  by  the 
collyrium  with  which  they  were  tinged,  formed  a  sort  of  ambus- 
cade, from  which  she  leveled  her  shafts.  Her  eyebrows  were 
finely  arched,  and  nature  had  brought  them  together  just  over 
her  nose,  in  so  strong  a  line,  that  there  was  no  need  of  art  to 
join  them  together.  Her  nose  was  aquiline,  her  mouth  small, 
and  full  of  sweet  expression  ;  and  in  the  centre  of  her  chin  was 
a  dimple  which  she  kept  carefully  marked  with  a  blue  -puncture. 
Nothing  could  equal  the  beauty  of  her  hair  ;  it  was  black  as 
jet,  and  fell  in  long  tresses  down  her  back.  In  short,  I  was 
wrapped  in  amazement  at  her  beauty.  The  sight  of  her  ex- 
plained to  me  many  things  which  I  had  read  in  our  poets,  of 
cypress  forms,  tender  fawns,  and  sugar-eating  parrots.  It 
seemed  to  me  that  I  could  gaze  at  her  for  ever,  and  not  be 
tired  ;  but  still  I  felt  a  great  desire  to  leap  over  the  wall  and 
touch  her.  My  passion  was  increasing,  and  I  was  on  the  point 
of  approaching  her,  when  I  heard  the  name  of  Zeenab  repeated 
several  times,  with  great  impatience,  by  a  loud,  shrill  voice  ; 
upon  which  my  fair  one  left  the  terrace  in  haste,  and  I  remained 
riveted  to  the  place  where  I  had  first  seen  her.  I  continued 
there  for  a  long  time,  in  the  hope  that  she  might  return,  but  to 
no  purpose.  I  lent  my  ear  to  every  noise,  but  nothing  was  to 
be  heard  below  but  the  same  angry  voice,  which,  by  turns,  ap- 
peared to  attack  everything,  and  everybody,  and  which  could 
iDelong  to  no  one  but  the  doctor's  wife  ;  a  lady,  who,  as  report 
would  have  it,  was  none  of  the  mildest  of  her  sex,  and  who  kept 
her  good  man  in  great  subjection. 

The  day  had  now  entirely  closed  in,  and  I  was  about  retiring 
to  my  bed  in  despair,  when  the  voice  was  heard  again,  exclaim- 
ing, ''  Zeenab,  where  are  you  going  to  ?  Why  do  you  not  retire 
to  bed  ?" 

I  indistinctly  heard  the  answer  of  my  charmer,  but  soon 
guessed  what  it  had  been,  when  I  saw  her  appear  on  the 
terrace  again.  My  heart  beat  violently,  and  I  was  about  to 
leap  over  the  wall,  which  separated  us,  when  I  was  stopped 
by  seeing  her  taking  up  a  basket,  in  which  she  bad  gathered  her 
tobacco,  and  make  a  hasty  retreat ;  but  just  as  she  was  disap- 
pering,    she   said   to   me,   in  a  low  tone  of  voice,  "  Be  here 


AN    INTERVIEW    AVITH    THE    FAIR    ZEENAB.  115 

to-morrow  night."  These  words  thrilled  through  my  whole 
frame,  in  a  manner  that  I  had  never  before  felt,  and  I  did  not 
cease  to  repeat  them,  and  ponder  over  them,  until,  through 
exhaustion,  I  fell  into  a  feverish  dose,  and  I  did  not  awaken  on 
the  following  morning  until  the  beams  of  the  sun  shone  bright 
in  my  face. 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

AN    INTERVIEW    WITH    THE    FAIR    ZEENAB. 

"  So,"  said  I,  when  I  had  well  rubbed  my  eyes  :  "so  now  I 
am  in  love  ?  Well !  we  shall  see  what  will  come  of  it.  Who 
and  what  she  is  we  shall  know  to-night,  so  please  it ;  and  if  she 
is  anything  which  belongs  to  the  doctor,  may  his  house  be 
ruined  if  I  do  not  teach  him  to  keep  a  better  watch  over  his 
property.  As  for  marriage,  that  is  out  of  the  question.  Who 
would  give  a  wife  to  me ;  I  who  have  not  even  enough  to  buy 
myself  a  pair  of  trovvsers,  much  less  to  defray  the  expenses  of 
a  wedding  ?  Inshallah,  please  God,  that  will  take  place  one 
of  these  days,  whenever  I  shall  have  got  together  some  money ; 
but  now  I  will  make  play  with  love,  and  let  the  doctor  pay 
for  it." 

With  that  intention  I  forthwith  got  up  and  dressed  myself; 
but  it  was  with  more  care  than  usual.  I  combed  my  curls  a 
great  deal  more  than  ordinary ;  I  studied  the  tie  of  my  girdle, 
and  put  my  cap  ou  one  side.  Then  having  rolled  up  my  bed, 
and  carried  it  into  the  servants'  hall,  I  issued  from  home,  with 
the  intention  of  going  to  the  bath,  and  making  my  person 
sweet,  preparatory  to  my  evening's  assignation.  I  went  to 
the  bath,  where  I  passed  a  great  part  of  my  morning  in  singing, 
and  spent  the  remainder  of  the  time,  until  the  hour  of  meet- 
ing, in  rambling  about  the  town  without  any  precise  object  in 
view. 

At  length  the  day  drew  towards  its  close  ;  my  impatience  had 
reached  its  height,  and  I  only  waited  for  the  termination  of  the 
sham,  or  the  evening's -meal,  to  feign  a  headache,  and  to  retire 
to  rest.  My  ill  luck  would  have  it,  that  the  doctor  was  detained 
longer  than  usual  in  his  attendance  upon  the  Shah,  and  as  the 
servants  dined  after  him,  and  ate  his  leavings,  it  was  late  bcfoi'e 
I  was  at  liberty.  When  that  moment  arrived,  I  was  in  a  fever 
of  expectation :  the  last  glimmering  of  day  tinged  the  western 


116  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BAB  A. 

sky  with  a  light  shade  of  red,  and  the  moon  Vv-as  just  rising, 
when  I  appeared  on  tlie  terrace  with  mj  bed  under  my  arm.  I 
threw  it  down  and  unfolded  it  in  haste,  and  then,  with  a  beat- 
ing heart,  flew  to  the  broken  wall.  I  looked  over  it  with  great 
precaution;  but,  to  my  utter  disappointment,  I  saw  nothing 
but  the  tobacco  spread  about  in  confused  heaps,  with  baskets 
here  and  there,  as  if  some  work  had  been  left  unfinished.  I 
looked  all  around,  but  saw  no  Zeenab.  I  coughed  once  or 
twice  ;  no  answer.  The  only  sound  which  reached  my  ears  was 
the  voice  of  the  doctor's  wife,  exerting  itself  upon  some  one 
within  the  house,  although  its  shrillness  pierced  even  the  walls  ; 
yet  I  could  not  make  out  what  was  the  cause  of  its  being  so 
excited,  until  of  a  sudden  it  burst  into  the  open  air  with 
increasing  violence. 

"  You  talk  of  work  to  me,  you  daughter  of  the  devil !  Who 
told  you  to  go  to  the  bath  ?  What  business  had  you  at  the 
tombs  ?  I  suppose  I  am  to  be  your  slave,  and  you  are  to  take 
your  pleasure.  Why  is  not  your  work  done  ?  You  shall  neither 
eat,  drink,  nor  sleep,  until  it  is  done,  so  go  to  it  immediately  ;  and 
if  you  come  away  until  it  be  finished,  wallah!  billahJ  by  the 
prophet,  I  will  beat  you  till  your  nails  drop  off."  Upon  this  I 
heard  some  pushing  and  scuffling,  and  immediately  perceived  my 
fair  one  proceeding  with  apparent  reluctance  to  the  spot,  which 
not  a  moment  before  I  had  despaired  of  seeing  blessed  with  her 
presence.  Oh  what  a  wonderful  thing  is  love  !  thought  I  to 
myself:  how  it  sharpens  the  wits,  and  how  fertile  it  is  in  expe- 
dients !  I  perceived  at  a  glance  how  ingeniously  my  charmer  had 
contrived  everything  for  our  interview,  and  for  a  continuance  of 
it  without  the  fear  of  interruption.  She  saw,  but  took  no  notice 
of  me  until  the  storm  below  had  ceased ;  aud  then,  when  every- 
thing had  relapsed  into  silence,  she  came  towards  me,  and,  as 
the  reader  may  well  suppose,  I  was  at  her  side  in  an  instant. 
Y^e,  who  know  what  love  is,  may,  perhaps,  conceive  our  rap- 
tures, for  they  are  not  to  be  expressed.  To  use  the  idea  of 
one  of  our  poets,  "  The  waters  of  our  existence,  although 
springing  from  different  sources,  met,  and  became  united  into 
one  impetuous  torrent,  which  rolled  on,  heedless  of  the  destruc- 
tion it  might  occasion  in  its  maddening  course." 

I  learned  from  my  fair  friend  that  she  v/as  the  daughter  of  a 
Curdish  chief,  who,  with  his  whole  family,  including  his  flocks 
and  herds,  had  been  made  prisoner  when  she  was  quite  a  child  ; 
and  that,  from  circumstances  which  she  promised  hereafter 
to  relate  to  me,  she  had  fallen  into  the  hands  of  the  doctor, 
■whose  slave  she  now  was. 

After  the  first  burst  of  the  sentiments  which  we  felt  towards 


AN    INTERVIEW    WITH    THE    FAIR    ZEENAB.  11*7 

each  other  had  subsided,  she  gave  way  to  the  feelings  of  anger, 
which  she  felt  for  the  treatment  that  she  had  just  experienced. 
"Ah  !"  she  exclaimed,  "did  you  hear  what  that  woman  called 
me  ?  woman,  without  faith,  without  religion  !  'Tis  thus  she 
always  treats  me  ;  she  constantly  gives  me  abuse  ;  I  am  become 
less  than  a  dog.  Everybody  rails  at  me ;  no  one  comes  near 
me;  my  liver  is  become  water,  and  my  soul  is  withered  up. 
Why  should  I  be  called  a  child  of  the  devil  ?  I  am  a  Curd ; 
I  am  a  Yezeedi.*  'Tis  true  that  we  fear  the  devil,  and  who 
does  not  ?  but  I  am  no  child  of  his.  Oh  !  that  I  could  meet 
her  in  our  mountains :  she  would  then  see  what  a  Curdish  girl 
can  do." 

I  endeavoi'ed  to  console  her  as  well  as  I  could,  and  persuaded 
her  to  smother  her  resentment  until  she  could  find  a  good  op- 
portuity  of  revenging  herself.  She  despaired  at  that  ever  com- 
ing to  pass ;  because  all  her  actions  were  so  strictly  watclicd, 
that  she  could  scarcely  go  from  one  room  to  another  without 
her  mistress  being  aware  of  it.  The  fact  was,  so  she  informed 
me,  that  the  doctor,  who  was  a  man  of  low  family,  had,  by 
orders  of  the  king,  married  one  of  his  majesty's  slaves,  who, 
from  some  misconduct,  had  been  expellecl  the  harem.  She 
brought  to  the  doctor  no  other  dowry  than  an  ill  temper,  and 
a  great  share  of  pride,  which  always  kept  her  in  mind  of  her 
former  influence  at  court;  and  she  therefore  holds  her  present 
husband  as  cheap  as  the  dust  under  her  feet,  and  keeps  him  in 
a  most  pitiful  state  of  subjection.  He  dares  not  sit  down  be- 
fore her,  unless  she  permits  him,  which  she  very  seldom  does; 
and  she  is  moreover  so  jealous,  that  tliere  is  no  slave  in  her 
harem  who  docs  not  excite  her  suspicions.  The  doctor,  on  the 
other  hand,  who  is  very  ambitious,  and  pleased  with  his  exal- 
tations, is  also  subject  to  the  frailties  of  liuman  nature,  and  is 
by  no  means  insensible  to  the  charms  of  the  fair  creatures,  his 
slaves.  Zeenab  herself,  so  she  informed  me,  is  the  peculiar 
object  of  his  attentions,  and  consequently  that  of  the  jealousy 
of  his  wife,  who  permits  no  look,  word,  or  sign,  to  pass  unno- 
ticed. Much  intrigue  and  espionage  is  carried  on  in  the 
harem  ;  and  when  the  lady  herself  goes  to  the  bath  or  the 
mosque,  as  many  precautions  are  taken  about  the  distribution 
of  the  female  slaves,  with  respect  to  time,  place,  and  oppor- 
tunity, as  there  would  be  in  the  arrangement  of  a  wedding. 

Having  never  seen  more  of  the  interior  of  an  anderun  than 
what  I  recollected  as  a  boy  in  my  own  family,  I  became  sur- 
prised, and  my  curiosity  was  greatly  excited  in  proportion  as 

*  The  yezeedis  are  a  tribe  of  the  Curds,  who  are  said  to  worship  the  devil. 


118  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

the  fair  Zeenab  proceeded  in  her  narrative  of  the  liistory  of  her 
life  in  tlie  doctor's  house.  "We  are  five  in  the  harem,  besides 
our  mistress,"  said  she  :  "there  is  Shireen,  the  Georgian  slave; 
then  Nur  Jehan,  the  Ethiopian  shave  girl ;  Fatmeh,  the  cook  ; 
and  old  Lcilah,  the  duenna.  My  situation  is  that  of  iiandmaid 
to  the  khanum — so  my  mistress  is  called  :  I  attend  her  pipe,  I 
hand  her  her  coffee,  bring  in  the  meals,  go  with  her  to  the 
bath,  dress  and  undress  her,  make  her  clothes,  spread,  sift,  and 
pound  tobacco,  and  stand  before  her.  Shireen,  the  Georgian, 
is  the  sandiihdar,  or  housekeeper ;  she  has  the  care  of  the 
clothes  of  both  my  master  and  mistress,  and  indeed  of  the  clothes 
of  all  the  house  ;  she  superintends  the  expenses,  lays  in  the 
corn  for  the  house,  as  well  as  all  the  other  provisions ;  she 
takes  charge  of  all  the  porcelain,  the  silver,  and  other  ware  ; 
and,  in  short,  has  the  care  of  whatever  is  either  precious  or  of 
consequence  in  the  family.  Nur  Jehan,  the  black  slave,  acts  as 
ferash,  or  carpet-spreader :  she  does  all  the  dirty  woi"k,  spreads 
the  carpets,  sweeps  the  rooms,  sprinkles  the  water  over  the 
courtyard,  helps  the  cook,  carries  parcels  and  messages,  and, 
in  short,  is  at  the  call  of  every  one.  As  for  old  Leilah,  she  is 
a  sort  of  duenna  over  the  young  slaves  :  she  is  employed  in  the 
out  of  door  service,  carries  on  any  little  affair  that  the  khanum 
may  have  with  other  harems,  and  is  also  supposed  to  be  a  spy 
upon  the  actions  of  the  doctor.  Such  as  we  are,  our  days  are 
passed  in  peevish  disputes ;  whilst,  at  the  same  time,  some  two 
of  us  are  usually  leagued  in  strict  friendship,  to  the  exclusion 
of  the  others.  At  this  present  moment  I  am  at  open  war  with 
the  Georgian,  who,  some  time  ago,  found  that"  her  good  luck 
in  life  had  forsaken  her,  and  she  in  consequence  contrived  to 
procure  a  talisman  from  a  dervish.  She  had  no  sooner  ob- 
tained it,  than  on  the  very  next  day  the  khanum  presented  her 
with  a  new  jacket ;  this  so  excited  my  jealousy,  that  I  also  made 
interest  with  the  dervish  to  supply  me  with  a  talisman  that 
should  secure  me  a  good  -Imsband.  Oh  that  very  same  evening 
I  saw  you  on  the  terrace.  Conceive  my  happiness  :  but  this 
has  established  a  rivalry  between  myself  and  Shireen,  which  has 
ended  in  hatred,  and  we  are  now  mortal  enemies  :  perhaps  we 
may  as  suddenly  be  friends  again.  I  am  now  on  the  most 
intimate  terras  with  Xur  Jehan,  and  at  my  persuasion  she  re- 
ports to  the  khanum  every  story  unfavorable  to  my  rival.  Some 
rare  sweetmeats,  with  ha/dava,  (sweet  cake,)  made  in  the  royal 
seraglio,  were  sent  a  few  days  ago  from  one  of  the  Shah's 
ladies,  as  a  present  to  our  mistress  ;  the  rats  eat  a  great  part 
of  them,  and  we  gave  out  that  the  Georgian  was  the  culprit, 
for  which  she  received  blows  on  the  feet,  which  Nur  Jehan  ad- 


INTERIOR    OF    THE    HAREM.  119 

ministered.  I  broke  my  mistress's  favorite  drinking  cup ; 
Shireen  incurred  the  blame,  and  was  obliged  to  supply  another. 
I  know  that  she  is  plotting  against  me,  for  she  is  eternally 
closeted  with  Leilah,  who  is  at  present  the  confidant  of  our 
mistress.  I  take  care  not  to  eat  or  drink  anything, which  has 
passed  through  her  hands  to  me,  for  fear  of  poison,  and  she  re- 
turns me  the  same  compliment.  It  is  not,  that  our  hatred 
amounts  to  poison  yet,  but  such  precautions  aVe  constantly  in 
use  in  all  harems.  We  have  as  yet  only  once  come  to  blows  : 
she  excited  me  to  violent  anger  by  spitting,  and  saying, 
"  lahnet  be  Sheifxm,'^  curse  be  on  the  devil,  which  you  know  to 
the  Yezeedies  is  a  gross  insult ;  when  I  fell  upon  her,  calling 
her  by  every  wicked  name  that  I  had  learnt  in  Persian,  and 
fastened  upon  her  hair,  of  which  I  pulled  whole  tresses  by  the 
roots.  We  were  parted  by  Leilah,  who  came  in  for  her  share 
of  abuse,  and  we  continued  railing  at  each  other  until  our 
throats  were  quite  dried  up  with  rage  and  exhaustion.  Our 
violence  has  much  abated  since  this  conflict ;  but  her  enmity  is 
undiminished,  for  she  continues  to  show  her  spite  against  me  in 
ever  manner  she  can  devise." 

Zeenab  continued  to  entertain  mc  in  this  manner  until  the 
first  dawn  of  the  morning,  and  when  we  heard  the  muezzin  call 
the  morning  prayers  from  the  mosque,  we  thought  it  prudent 
to  retire  ;  but  not  until  we  had  made  mutual  promises  of  see- 
ing each  other  as  often  as  prudence  would  allow.  We  agreed, 
that  whenever  she  had  by  her  stratagems  secured  an  oppor- 
tunity for  meeting,  she  should  hang  her  veil  upon  the  bough  of 
a  tree  in  the  court,  which  could  be  seen  from  my  terrace  ;  and 
that  if  it  were  not  there,  I  was  to  conclude  that  our  interview 
on  that  night  was  impossible. 


CHAPTER  XXV. 

INTERIOR    OF    THE    HAREM. 

On  the  following  evening,  I  ascended  the  terrace  in  the  hope 
of  seeing  the  signal  of  meeting ;  but  in  vain — no  veil  was 
visible  ;  and  I  sat  myself  down  in  despair.  The  tobacco,  and 
all  the  apparatus  for  cleaning  it,  had  disappeared,  and  all  was 
hushed  below.  Even  the  un(;easing  voice  of  the  doctor's  wife, 
which  I  now  began  to  look  upon  as  the  most  agreeable  sound 


120  THE    ADVENTURES    OF    HAJJI    BABA. 

in  nature,  was  wanting;  and  the  occasional  drag  of  a  slipper, 
which  I  guessed  might  proceed  from  the  crawl  of  old  Leilah, 
was  the  only  sign  of  an  inliabitant.  I  had  in  succession  watched 
the  distant  din  of  the  liing's  band,  the  crash  of  the  drums, 
and  the  swell  of  the  trumpets,  announcing  sunset.  I  had 
listened  to  the  various  tones  of  the  Muezzins,  announcing  the 
evening  prayer  ;  as  well  as  to  the  small  drum  of  the  police, 
ordering  the  people  to  shut  their  shops,  and  retire  to  their 
homes.  The  cry  of  the  sentinels  on  the  watch  towers  of  the 
king's  palace  was  heard  at  distant  intervals ;  night  had  com- 
pletely closed  in  upon  me,  and  still  the  same  silence  prevailed 
in  the  doctor's  harem. 

"What  can  be  the  reason  of  this  ?"  said  I  to  myself.  "  If 
they  have  been  to  the  bath,  they  cannot  have  remained  thus 
late :  besides,  the  baths  are  open  for  the  women  in  the  morn- 
ings only.  Some  one  must  be  sick,  or  there  is  a  marriage,  or  a 
birth,  or  perhaps  a  burial ;  or  the  doctor  may  have  received 
the  bastinado  ;"  in  short,  I  was  killing  myself  with  conjecture, 
Avhen  of  a  sudden  a  great  beating  at  the  door  took  place,  and, 
as  it  opened,  the  clatter  of  slippers  was  heard,  attended  by  the 
mingled  sounds  of  many  female  voices,  amongst  which  the  well- 
known  querulous  tone  of  the  khanum  was  prominent.  Several 
lanterns  passed  to  and  fro,  which  showed  me  the  forms  of  the 
women,  amongst  whom,  as  they  threw  off  their  veils,  I  recog- 
iiized  that  of  my  Zeenab.  I  determined  to  watch,  in  the 
hope  that  I  might  still  be  blessed  with  an  interview  ;  and,  in 
fact,  it  was  not  long  before  she  appeared.  She  stole  to  me 
with  great  precaution,  to  say  that  circumstances  would  prevent 
our  meeting  on  this  occasion,  as  she  should  not  fail  being 
missed  ;  but  that,  certainly,  ere  long,  she  would  contrive  to 
pccure  an  interview.  In  few  words,  she  informed  me  that  her 
mistress  had  been  called  upon  to  attend  her  sister,  (one  of  the 
ladies  in  the  Shah's  seraglio,)  who  being  taken  suddenly  ill,  had 
expired  almost  immediately,  (it  was  supposed  by  poison  ad- 
ministered by  a  rival,)  and'  that  she  had  taken  all  her  women 
with  her,  in  order  to  increase  the  clamor  of  lamentation  which 
was  always  made  on  such  occasions ;  that  they  had  been  there 
since  noon,  rending  the  air  with  every  proper  exclamation,  until 
they  were  all  hoarse  ;  that  her  mistress  had  already  torn  her 
clothes,  an  etiquette  which  she  had  performed,  however,  with 
great  care,  considering  that  she  wore  a  favorite  jacket,  having 
permitted  only  one  or  two  seams  of  it  to  be  ripped  open.  As 
the  burial  would  take  place  the  next  day,  it  was  necessary  that 
they  should  be  at  their  post  early  in  the  morning  to  continue 
the  lamentations,  a  service  for  which  she  expected  to  receive  a 


INTEKIOR    OF    THE    HAREM.  121 

black  handkerchief,  and  to  eat  sweetmeats.  My  fair  one  then 
left  me,  promisin.i?  that  she  would  do  her  utmost  to  secure  a 
•meeting  on  the  following  evening,  and  telling  me  not  to  forget 
the  signal. 

On  getting  up  the  next  morning,  I  was  much  surprised  to 
see  it  already  made,  and  to  perceive  Zeenab  below,  beckoning 
me  to  go  to  her.  I  did  not  hesitate  immediately  to  descend  from 
the  terrace  by  the  same  small  flight  of  steps  which  she  used  to 
ascend  it,  and  then  of  a  sudden  I  found  myself  in  the  very 
centre  of  the  harem.  An  involuntary  tremor  seized  me,  when  I 
reflected  that  I  was  in  a  place  into  which  no  man  with  impunity 
is  permitted  to  enter ;  but,  fortified  by  the  smiles  and  the 
unconstrained  manner  of  my  enchantress,  I  proceeded. 

"Come,  Hajji,"said  she,  "banish  all  fear;  no  one  is  here  but 
Zeenab,  and,  if  our  luck  is  good,  we  may  have  the  whole  day  to 
ourselves." 

"By  what  miracle,"  exclaimed  I,  "have  you  done  this? 
Where  is  the  khanum  ?  where  are  the  women  ?  and,  if  they  are 
not  here,  how  shall  I  escape  the  doctor?" 

"Do  not  fear,"  she  repeated  again;  "I  have  barred  all  the 
doors ;  and  should  any  one  come,  you  will  have  time  to  escape 
before  I  open  them :  but  there  is  no  fear  of  that ;  all  the  women 
are  gone  to  the  funeral ;  and  as  for  Mirza  Ahmak,  my  mistress 
has  taken  care  to  dispose  of  him  in  such  a  manner,  now  that  I 
am  left  by  myself,  that  he  will  not  dare  to  come  within  a  para- 
sang  of  his  own  house.  You  must  know,  then,"  said  she,  "for 
I  sec  you  are  all  astonishment,  that  our  destinies  are  on  the 
rise,  and  that  it  was  a  lucky  hour  when  we  first  saw  each  other. 
Everything  plays  into  our  hands.  My  rival,  the  Georgian,  put 
it  into  the  khanum's  head,  that  Leilah,  who  is  a  professed 
weeper  at  burials,  having  learned  the  art,  in  all  its  branches, 
since  a  child,  was  a  personage  absolutely  necessary  on  the  pre- 
sent occasion,  and  that  she  ought  to  go  in  preference  to  me, 
who  am  a  Curd,  and  can  know  but  little  of  Persian  customs  : 
all  this,  of  course,  to  deprive  me  of  my  black  handkerchief,  and 
other  advantages.  Accordingly  I  have  been  left  at  home  ;  and 
the  whole  party  went  off  an  hour  ago  to  the  house  of  the 
deceased.  I  pretended  to  be  very  angry,  and  opposed  Leilah's 
taking  my  place  with  apparent  warmth;  but,  thank  Heaven, 
here  we  are,  and  so  let  us  make  the  most  of  our  time." 

Upon  which  she  went  into  the  kitchen  to  pi'epare  a  tray, 
cpntaining  a  breakfast  for  me,  whilst  she  left  me  to  explore 
that  which  is  hidden  from  all  bachelors,  namely,  the  interior  of 
the  harem. 

I  first  went  into  the  apartments  of  the  khanum  herself.     It 
11 


122  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

opened  upon  the  garden  by  an  immense  sash  window,  composed 
of  stained  glass ;  and  in  the  corner  was  the  accustomed  seat  of 
the  lady,  marked  by  a  thick  felt  carpet,  folded  double,  and  a 
large  down  cushion,  covered  with  cloth  of  gold,  with  two 
tassels  at  the  extremities,  and  veiled  by  a  thin  outer  covering 
of  musiu.  Near  this  seat  was  a  looking-glass,  prettily  painted, 
and  a  box  containing  all  sorts  of  curiosities ;  the  surme 
(collyriura)  for  the  eyes,  with  its  small  instrument  for  applying 
it;  some  Chinese  rouge;  apair  of  armlets,  containing  talismans  ; 
a  toil  zoulfeh,  or  an  ornament  to  hitch  into  the  hair,  and  hang 
on  the  forehead ;  a  knife,  scissors,  and  other  things.  A  guitar 
and  a  tambourine  lay  close  at  hand.  Her  bed,  rolled  up  in  a 
distant  corner,  was  enclosed  in  a  large  wrapper  of  blue  and 
white  cloth.  Several  pictures,  without  frames,  were  hung 
against  the  walls,  and  the  shelf  which  occupied  the  top  of  the 
room  was  covered  with  different  sorts  of  glasses,  basins,  &c. 
In  a  corner  were  seen  several  bottles  of  Shiraz  wine,  one  of 
which,  just  stopped  with  a  flower,  appeared  to  have  been  used 
by  the  good  lady  that  very  morning ;  most  likely  in  order  to 
keep  up  her  spirits  during  the  melancholy  ceremony  she  was 
about  to  attend. 

"  So,"  said  I  to  myself,  "  the  Prophet  is  not  much  heeded  in 
this  house.  I  shall  know  another  time  how  to  appreciate  a 
sanctified  and  mortified  look.  Our  doctor,  who  calls  himself 
a  staunch  Mussulman,  I  see  makes  up  for  his  large  potations  of 
cold  water  and  sherbet  abroad,  by  his  good  stock  of  wine  at 
home." 

By  the  time  I  had  satisfied  ray  curiosity  here,  and  had 
inspected  the  other  rooms,  which  belonged  to  the  servants, 
Zeenab  had  prepared  our  breakfast,  which  she  placed  before 
us  in  the  khanum's  room.  We  sat  down  next  to  each  other,  and 
reposed  upon  the  very  cushion  of  which  I  have  just  given  the 
description.  Nothing  could  be  more  delicious  than  the  meal 
which  she  had  prepared :  there  was  a  dish  of  rice,  white  as 
snow,  and  near  it  a  plate  of  roast  meat,  cut  into  small  bits, 
wrapped  up  in  a  large  flap  of  bread  :  then  a  beautiful  Ispahan 
melon,  in  long  slices  :  some  pears  and  apricots ;  an  omelette 
warmed  from  a  preceding  meal ;  cheese,  onions,  and  leaks  ;  a 
basin  of  sour  curds,  and  two  difl"ereut  sorts  of  sherbet :  added 
to  this,  we  had  some  delicious  sweetmeats,  and  a  basin  full  of 
new  honey. 

"  How,  in  the  name  of  your  mother,"  exclaimed  I,  as  I  pulled 
up  my  whiskers,  and  surveyed  the  good  things  before  me,  "how 
have  you  manged  to  collect  all  this  so  soon  ?  This  is  a  break- 
fast fit  for  the  Shah." 


INTERIOR    OF    THE    HAREM.  123 

"Oh,  as  to  that,"  she  replied,  "do  not  troidjle  yourself,  but 
fall  to.  My  mistress  ordered  her  breakfast  to  be  prepared  over- 
night, but  on  second  thoughts  this  morning  she  determined  to 
make  her  meal  at  the  house  of  the  deceased,  and  has  left  me, 
as  you  see,  but  little  to  do.     Come,  let  us  eat  and  be  merry." 

Accordingly,  we  did  honour  to  the  breakfast,  and  left  but 
little  for  those  who  might  come  after  us.  After  we  had  washed 
our  hands,  we  placed  the  wine  before  us,  and  having  each 
broken  the  commandment  by  taking  a  cup,  we  congratulated 
ourselves  upon  being  two  of  the  happiest  of  human  beings. 

Such  was  my  delight,  that  taking  up  the  guitar  which  was 
near  me,  and  putting  aside  all  apprehension  for  the  present, 
and  all  care  for  the  future,  I  tuned  it  to  my  voice,  and  sang  the 
following  ode  of  Ifafiz,  which  I  had  learnt  in  my  youth,  when  I 
used  to  charm  my  hearers  in  the  bath. 

What  bliss  is  like  to  whispcrinj;  love, 

Or  dalliance  iu  the  bowers  of  spring  ? 
Why  then  delay  my  bliss  t'improve  ? 

Haste,  haste,  my  love,  the  goblet  bring. 

Each  hour  that  joy  and  mirth  bestow, 

Call  it  treasure,  count  it  gain  ; 
Fool  is  the  mau  who  seeks  to  know 

Ilis  pleasure  will  it  end  iu  pain  ! 

The  links  which  our  existence  bind 

Hang  not  by  one  weak  thread  alone  ; 
Of  man's  distress  why  tease  the  mind  ? 

Sufficient  'tis — wo  know  our  own. 

The  double  charms  of  love  and  wine 

Alike  from  one  sweet  source  arise  : 
Are  we  to  blame,  shall  we  repine, 

When  unconstrained  the  passions  rise? 

If,  innocent  in  heart  and  mind, 

I  sin  unconscious  of  ofl'ence. 
What  use,  0  casuist,  shall  I  find 

In  absolution's  recompense ! 

Hermits  the  flowing  spring  approve  ; 

Poets  the  sparkling  bowl  enjoy; 
And,  till  he's  judged  by  powers  above, 

Hafiz  will  drink,  and  sing,  and  toj-. 

Zeenab  was  quite  in  ecstasy :  she  had  never  heard  anything 
wSo  delightful  in  her  life,  and  forgetting  that  both  of  us  were  but 
wretched  individuals, — she  a  slave,  I  the  most  destitute  of 
beings, — we  did  and  felt  as  if  all  that  surrounded  us  was  our  own, 
and  that  the  wine  and  our  love  wouid  last  for  ever. 


124  THE  ADVEXTURES  OF  HAJJI  EABA. 

Having  sang  several  more  songs,  and  emptied  several  cups 
of  wine,  I  found  that  my  poetry  was  exhausted  as  well  as  oui 
bottle. 

It  was  still  quite  early,  and  we  had  much  time  before  us. 
"Zeenab,"  said  I,  "you  have  long  promised  to  tell  me  the  his- 
tory of  your  life,  and  now  is  a  good  opportunity ;  we  are  not 
likely  to  be  interrupted  for  a  long  while,  and,  as  our  meetings 
at  night  are  very  uncertain,  an  hour  cannot  be  better  filled  up 
than  by  the  recital  of  your  adventures."  She  assented  to  my 
proposal  with  much  good  humor,  and  began  as  follows. 


CHAPTER  XXYI. 

HISTORY    OF    ZEENAB THE    DOCTOr's    DISCOVERT. 

"  I  AM  the  daughter  of  a  chief,  well  known  in  the  Curdistan  by 
the  name  of  Okous  Aga.  Who  my  mother  was  I  do  not  y)re- 
cisely  know.  I  have  heard  that  I  am  the  produce  of  one  of  the 
secret  meetings  at  Kerrund  ;*  but  as  such  mysterious  doings 
are  hushed  up  among  the  Curds,  I  have  never  dared  to  question 
anybody  concerning  them,  and  cannot,  therefore,  ascertain 
whether  the  reports  about  my  birth  be  true  or  not.  It  is  very 
certain  that  I  never  looked  up  to  any  one  as  my  mother  ;  but 
was  brought  up  at  hazard  among  our  women,  and  that  my  ear- 
liest friend  was  a  foal,  that  lived  as  an  inmate  with  us.  It  was 
born  in  the  very  tent  which  my  father's  wives  occupied  ;  and  its 
dam,  of  the  purest  Arabian  blood,  was  treated  more  like  one  of 
the  family  than  a  quadruped  ;  in  fact,  it  received  much  more 
attention  than  any  of  the  wives;  it  enjoyed  the  warmest  place 
in  the  tent,  was  beautifully  clothed,  and  in  all  our  journeys  was 
the  first  object  of  our  cares.  When  the  mare  died,  a  universal 
lamentation  ensued  throughout  the  encampment.  The  foal  lived 
to  be  my  father's  war-horse,  and  is  to  this  day  the  pride  of  the 
Curdistan.  But  would  to  Heaven  that  we  had  felt  less  affection 
for  these  animals  ;  then  I  might  still  have  been  a  free  woman  ; 

*  This  no  doutt  relates  to  certain  mysterious  and  obscene  customs,  wliich 
are  said  to  be  practiced  among  the  Yezeedeis,  at  the  village  of  Kerrund,  in  the 
Curdistan,  and  peculiar  to  the  tribe  of  Nusiri,  commonly  called  Chirarjh  Kush, 
or  lamp  extinguishers.  Antiquarians  pretend  in  them  to  trace  a  resemblance 
to  the  abominable  worship  of  Venus,  as  practiced  by  the  Babylonians,  and  re- 
corded in  Herodotus,  Book  I.,  cxcis.  sec. 


HISTORY    OF    ZEENAB THE    POCTGR's    DISCOVERY.  125 

for,  iu  trutb,  tlie  many  vicissitudes  which  we  have  underg-one 
originated  in  the  possession  of  a  mare,  of  which  you  shall  hear 
more  hereafter. 

"You  must  know,  that  although  the  Curds  do  not  allow  that 
they  are  subject  to  any  power,  yet  our  ancestors  (and  so  did 
my  father  to  a  certain  time)  grazed  their  flocks  and  pitclied 
their  tents  in  that  part  of  the  Curdistan  mountains  belonging 
to  Turkey,  which  are  situated  in  the  government  of  the  Pasha 
of  Bagdad.  Whenever  that  chief  had  any  war  on  his  hands,  he 
frequently  called  upon  our  tribes  to  afford  him  supplies  of  horse- 
men, who  being  celebrated  throughout  Asia,  were  always  fore- 
most in  the  battle.  My  father,  from  his  strength,  his  courage, 
and  his  horsemanship,  was  a  great  favorite  with  the  Pasha,  and 
was  in  high  request  on  such  occasions.  He  was  a  majestic 
figure  on  horseback;  and  when  his  countenance  was  shaded  by 
the  back  part  of  his  cap  thrown  over  his  brow,  his  look  inspired 
terror.  He  had  killed  several  men,  and  was  consequently  hon- 
ored with  the  distinction  of  bearing  a  tuft  of  hair  on  his  spear. 
But  it  was  when  clad  in  armor  that  he  was  most  to  be  admired. 
I  shall  never  forget  the  grandeur  of  his  appearance,  when,  with 
his  horse  curvetting  under  him,  I  saw  him  in  the  midst  of  a 
thousand  cavaliers,  all  dressed  in  shining  cuirasses,  peacock's 
feathers  streaming  from  their  helmets,  and  their  spears  glitter- 
ing in  the  sun,  preparing  themselves  to  join  the  Pasha.  From 
the  result  of  this  expedition  we  date  part  of  our  misfortunes. 
The  Wahabi  had  advanced  into  the  territory  of  Bagdad,  and 
even  threatened  that  city,  when  the  Pasha  thought  it  high  time 
to  call  the  Curds  to  his  assistance.  He  took  the  field  with  a 
considerable  number  of  troops,  and  immediately  marched  against 
the  enemy.  In  a  night  attack,  my  father  happened  to  fall  in 
with  and  slay  the  son  of  the  Arab  Sheikh  himself,  who  com- 
manded the  Wahabi ;  and  having  despoiled  him  of  his  arms,  he 
led  away  with  him  the  mare  which  his  antagonist  had  mounted. 
He  too  well  knew  the  value  of  such  a  prize  not  immediately  to 
take  the  utmost  care  of  it ;  and  in  order  to  keep  his  good  for- 
tune from  the  knowledge  of  the  Turkish  chieftain,  who  would 
do  everything  in  his  power  to  get  it  from  him,  he  sent  it  to  his 
encampment,  with  orders  that  it  should  he  carefully  concealed, 
and  lodged  in  the  tent  which  his  harem  occuyjied.  His  precau- 
tions were  useless,  because  the  feat  which  he  had  performed, 
and  the  circumstances  attending  it,  were  soon  known  to  every 
one  ;  but  as  the  Pasha  had  a  great  esteem  for  him,  and  there 
being  no  reason  to  suppose  that  the  mare  was  more  than  an 
ordinary  one,  he  made  no  inquiries  about  her.  However,  not 
very  long  after  the  war  had  ceased,  the  Wahabi  having  ))ecn 
11* 


126  THE    ADVEXTURES    OF    IIAJJI    BACA. 

driven  back  into  the  desert,  and  the  Curds  having  retired  to 
their  mountains,  we  were  surprised  one  morning  by  a  visit  from 
one  of  the  Pasha's  chief  officers,  viz.,  the  MlrahJior,  or  master 
of  the  horse,  who  came  escorted  by  a  handsome  train  of  ten 
men,  well  mounted  and  armed.  Everybody  was  immediately 
on  the  alert  to  do  them  honor.  Their  horses  were  taken  to  the 
nearest  pasture,  and  picketed  with  plenty  of  grass  before  them  : 
the  horsemen  were  led-into  the  men's  tent  with  much  ceremony, 
where  they  were  treated  with  coffee  and  pipes  ;  and  a  large  cal- 
dron of  I'ice  was  set  on  the  fire  to  make  a  piloic.  Two  lambs 
were  immediately  killed  and  cooked  into  a  savory  dish  by  the 
women,  who  also  baked  piles  of  bread  on  the  occasion.  In 
short,  we  did  all  in  our  power  to  put  into  practice  those  obliga- 
tions of  hospitality  which  are  binding  upon  the  wandering  tribes. 

"  As  soon  as  my  father  was  apprised  of  the  approach  of  his 
visitors,  even  when  they  were  fii'st  espied  at  a  distance,  it  im- 
mediately occurred  to  liim  what  might  be  their  object,  and  he 
ordered  his  eldest  son  to  mount  the  mare  without  a  moment's 
delay,  to  take  her  into  a  neighboring  dell,  until  he  should  hear 
further  from  him.  Our  tents  were  pitched  in  a  line,  on  the 
brink  of  a  mountain  torrent ;  and  it  was  therefore  easy  to  steal 
away  unperceived  in  the  deep  bed  through  which  it  flowed  ; 
and  the  high  mountains  in  our  neighborhood,  with  the  intrica- 
cies of  which  we  were  well  acquainted,  afforded  good  shelter  to 
us  in  cases  of  disturbance. 

"  I  recollect  the  whole  circumstance  just  as  if  it  were  yester- 
day ;  for  we  women  could  peep  into  the  place  where  the  men 
were  assembled,  and  our  curiosity  led  us  to  listen  to  what  they 
said.  The  Mirakhor  and  two  other  Turks  were  seated ;  the 
others  stood  at  the  entrance  of  the  tent,  resting  on  their  arms. 
My  father  placed  himself  at  some  distance,  on  the  carpet,  with 
his  hands  before  him,  and  his  feet  tucked  under  him,  looking 
very  humble,  but  at  the  same  time  casting  his  eyes  very  sharply 
around  him. 

"  '  You  are  welcome,  and  you  have  brought  happiness  with 
yon,'  exclaimed  my  father. 

" 'Happily  met,' answered  the  Mirakhor ;  'it  is  long  since 
we  have  seen  each  other;'  and  when  they  had  repeated  these 
and  similar  sorts  of  compliments  over  and  over  again,  they  re- 
lapsed into  silence ;  their  pipes,  which  they  smoked  until  the 
place  was  darkened  with  the  fumes,  holding  them  in  lieu  of  con- 
vcrsntion. 

'"Our  master,  the  Pasha,'  said  the  Mirakhor,  'sends  you 
health  and  peace ;  he  loves  you,  and  says,  tliat  you  are  one  of 
his  best  and  oldest  friends.     31((shallah !  praise  be  to  God  1 


HISTORY    OF    ZEEXAB — THE    DOCTOR'S    DISCOVERY  1  2*7 

You  are  a  good  man  ;  all  Cords  are  good  ;  their  friends  are 
our  friends,  and  their  enemies  our  enemies.' 

"An  old  Turk,  who  was  standing,  the  foremost  of  the  at- 
tendants, applauded  this  speech  by  a  sort  of  low  growl ;  and 
then  my  father,  shrugging  up  his  shoulders,  and  pressing  his 
hands  on  his  knees,  answered  :  '  I  am  the  Pasha's  slave ;  1  am 
your  slave:  you  do  me  much  honor.  11  hem  dillah,  thanks  to 
Heaven,  we  eat  our  bread  in  peace  under  the  Pasha's  shade,  and 
put  our  caps  on  one  side  without  fear.     God  give  him  plenty.' 

"  After  a  short  pause  ;  '  The  business  of  our  coming,  Okous 
Aga,'  said  the  Mirakhor,  '  is  this  :  The  Wahabi  (curses  be  on 
their  beards  !)  have  sent  a  deputation  to  our  chief,  requiring 
from  him  the  mare  upon  which  the  son  of  their  Sheikh  was 
mounted  at  the  time  that  he  was  killed.  Although  they  say 
that  his  blood  is  on  our  heads,  and  that  nothing  but  the  Pasha's 
life,  or  that  of  his  son,  can  ever  redeem  it;  yet  that  subject 
they  will  for  the  present  waive,  in  order  to  regain  possession 
of  her.  They  say,  that  she  has  the  most  perfect  pedigree  of 
any  in  Arabia  ;  that  from  generation  to  generation  her  descent 
is  to  be  traced  to  the  mare  which  the  Prophet  rode  on  his  flight 
from  Medina ;  and,  in  order  to  regain  her,  they  offer  to  throw 
money  on  the  board  until  the  Pasha  shall  say  stop.  Now  all 
the  world  knows  that  you  are  the  brave  he,  who  overcame  and 
slew  the  Sheikh's  son,  and  that  yours  is  the  spoil  of  the  mare. 
My  master,  after  consulting  with  the  nobles  and  the  chief  men 
of  Bagdad,  has  determined  to  take  the  offer  of  the  Wahabi  into 
consideration  ;  and  since  it  has  become  a  business  of  govern- 
ment, has  sent  me  to  request  you  to  deliver  her  up  into  my 
hands.     This  is  my  errand,  and  I  have  said  it.' 

"  'Wallah!  hillah!  By  the  Pasha's  salt  which  I  have  eaten, 
by  your  soul,  by  the  mother  who  bore  you,  by  the  stars  and 
the  heavens,  I  swear  that  all  the  Wahabi  say  is  false.  Where 
is  the  mare  they  pretend  to  have  lost,  and  where  the  miserable 
jade  that  fell  to  my  lot  ?  I  got  a  mare,  'tis  true,  but  so  lean, 
so  wretched,  that  I  sold  her  to  an  Arab  the  day  after  the 
battle.  You  may  have  the  bridle  and  saddle,  if  you  please, 
but,  as  for  the  beast,  I  have  her  not.' 

'''Allah!  allaJi !''  exclaimed  the  Mirakhor,  'this  is  a  busi- 
ness of  much  consequence.  Okous  Aga,  you  are  an  upright 
man,  and  so  am  I.  Do  not  laugh  at  our  beards,  and  send  us 
away  without  caps  on  our  heads.  If  we  do  not  bring  back  the 
mare,  our  faces  will  be  black  to  all  eternity,  and  the  doors  of 
friendship  between  you  and  the  Pasha  will  be  shut.  By  my 
soul,  tell  me  ;  where  is  the  beast  ?' 

"  '  Friend,'  answered  my  father,  '  what  shall  I  say  ?  what  can 


128  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BAB  A. 

I  do  ?  The  mare  is  not  liere — the  Wahabi  are  liars — and 
I  speak  the  truth.'  Then  with  a  softened  tone,  he  approached 
the  Mirakhor,  and  spoke  to  him  for  a  long  time  iu  a  whisper, 
with  much  animation  and  apparent  persuasion  ;  for  at  the  end 
of  their  conversation,  they  appeared  to  be  well  agreed. 

"  The  Mirakhor  then  said  aloud  :  '  Well,  if  such  is  the  case, 
and  the  beast  is  not  iu  your  possession,  Allah  Kerim,  God  is 
merciful,  and  there  is  no  combatting  against  fate.  We  must 
return  to  Bagdad.' 

"  My  father  then  rose  from  his  seat,  and  came  into  the 
women's  tent,  leaving  his  guests  to  smoke  their  pipes  and  drink 
coffee,  preparatory  to  the  meal*  which  was  making  ready  for 
them.  He  ordered  his  wife,  who  was  the  depository  of  his 
money,  to  bring  him  a  bag  of  gold,  that  was  carefully  wrapped 
in  many  a  piece  of  old  cloth,  and  deposited  in  a  trunk,  which, 
with  his  rich  horse  furniture,  the  parade  pack  saddle,  and  other 
things  of  value,  were  placed  in  a  corner  of  the  tent.  He  took 
out  twenty  BajngJiH,  (ducats,)  which  he  tied  iu  the  corner  of  a 
handkerchief,  and  thrust  them  into  his  bosom  :  and  then  giving 
his  orders  that  the  victuals  should  forthwith  be  served  up,  he 
returned  to  his  guests.  Little  was  said  until  the  hour  of  eating 
came,  and  the  few  words  that  were  uttered  turned  on  horses, 
dogs,  and  arms.  The  Mirakhor  drew  from  his  girdle  a  long 
pistol,  mounted  in  silver,  which  was  shown  around  to  all  the 
company  as  a  real  English  pistol.  Another  man  exhibited  his 
scimetar,  which  was  assured  to  be  a  black  Kliorassani  blade  of 
the  first  water  ;  and  my  father  produced  a  long,  straight  sword, 
sharp  on  both  edges,  which  he  had  taken  from  the  sou  of  the 
Arab  Sheikh  whom  he  had  slain. 

"The  dinner  being  ready,  the  round  leathern  cloth  was 
placed  before  the  Mirakhor,  upon  which  many  flaps  of  bread, 
just  baked,  were  thrown,  and  water  was  handed  about  for  wash- 
ing the  right  hand.  A  mess  of  chorba,  or  soup,  was  served  up 
in  a  large  wooden  dish,  and  placed  in  the  centre  of  the  cloth. 
My  father  then  said  aloud,  '  Bismillaii,''-  in  the  name  of  God ; 
and  all  the  party,  consisting  of  the  Mirakhor,  his  ten  followers, 
my  father,  and  three  of  his  attendants,  settling  themselves 
round  the  dish,  with  their  right  shoulders  advanced  forwards, 
partook  of  the  soup  with  wooden  spoons.  A  lamb  roasted 
whole,  succeeded  the  mess,  which  was  pulled  to  pieces  in  a 
short  time,  each  man  getting  as  large  a  portion  of  it  for  himself 
as  he  could.  The  feast  was  closed  by  an  immense  dish  of  rice, 
which  was  dived  into  by  the  hands  and  fingers  of  all  present. 
As  fast  as  they  were  satisfied,  each  man  got  up  and  washed, 
saying,  Shvlur  Allali,  thanks  to  God;  owdAUali  bcrelcct  rersui, 


fllSTORY    OF    ZEENAB THE    DOCTOR'S    DISCOVERY.  129 

may  God  restore  you  plenty.  Tlie  remains  were  then  rolled 
up  in  the  leathern  cloth,  and  taken  outside  the  tents,  where  my 
father's  shepherds  soon  made  an  end  of  them. 

"  The  Mirakhor  being  anxious  to  sleep  at  a  village  in  the 
plain,  expressed  a  wish  to  depart,  and  his  suite  went  to  prepare 
their  horses,  leaving  him  and  my  father  in  the  tent.  I,  who 
had  narrowly  watched  the  whole  of  the  proceedings,  was  de- 
termined to  see  what  should  take  place  lietween  them,  and  lent 
au  ear  to  what  they  said. 

"My  father  said,  '  Indeed  ten  ducats  is  all  I  can  give — we 
are  poor — where  shall  I  find  more  V  To  which  the  Mirakhor 
replied,  '  It  is  impossible  :  you  know  perfectly  what  will  hap- 
pen if  I  do  not  receive  double  that  sum :  the  Pasha,  when  he 
finds  that  we  have  not  brought  the  mare,  will  order  me  back 
again  to  seize  you,  and  will  take  possession  of  all  your  pro- 
perty. I  am,  indeed,  ordered  to  do  that  now,  in  case  you  re- 
fuse his  request,  but  shall  not  touch  you,  if  you  come  to  my 
terms,  which  are  twenty  gold  pieces.  So,  my  friend,  decide.' 
Upon  which,  my  father  took  the  handkerchief  from  his  bosom, 
and  taking  out  the  money  from  it,  counted  twenty  ducats  into 
the  Mirakhor's  hand,  who,  when  satisfied  that  they  were  all 
good,  untied  the  white  muslin  that  was  wound  round  his  tur- 
ban, and  placing  them  in  the  folds  of  it,  twisted  it  round  his 
head  again.  '  Now,'  said  he  to  my  father,  '  we  have  eaten  salt 
together ;  we  are  friends ;  and  should  the  Pasha  attempt  any- 
thing, I  will  interfere.  But  you  most  send  him  a  present,  or 
otherwise  it  will  be  impossible  to  prevent  him  from  molesting 
you.' 

"  '  Bushem  ustun,  upon  my  head  be  it !'  answered  my  father. 
'  I  possess  a  famous  greyhound,  celebrated  throughout  the 
whole  of  the  Curdistan,  which  can  seize  an  antelope  at  full 
speed ;  a  creature  the  like  of  which  the  Shah  of  Persia's  father 
never  even  saw  in  a  dream.     Will  that  do  ?' 

"'Perfectly  well  for  one  thing;  but  that  is  not  enough. 
Consider  of  what  consequence  it  is  that  my  master  should  bo 
pleased  with  you.' 

"  '  I  tell  you  what,'  said  he:  'a  thought  has  struck  me  ;  I 
have  a  daughter  more  beautiful  than  the  moon,  round,  large 
hipped,  and  greatly  inclined  to  corpulency.  You  must  say  to 
him,  that  although  the  Yezeedies  are  infidels  in  his  eyes,  and 
as  the  dust  under  his  feet,  yet  still  he  may  perhaps  be  anxious 
to  possess  a  beauty,  which  even  the  houris  of  Mohamed's  Para- 
dise would  be  jealous  of,  and  I  am  ready  to  send  her  to  him.' 

"  The  Mirakhor  clapped  his  hands  in  ecstacy,  and  said, 
Aferin  !  Aferiu  !  well  said ;  this  is  excellent !  I  will  make  the 


130  THE    ADVENTURES    OF    IIAJJI    BABA. 

offer,  and  no  doubt  he  will  accept  it ;  and  thus  you  will  hare  a 
powerful  friend  in  his  harem,  who  will  get  you  out  of  this  scrape, 
and  protect  you  for  the  future.'  Upon  this  they  seemed  agreed. 
I,  who  it  appears  was  to  be  the  victim,  left  my  watching-placo 
to  ruminate  upon  what  was  likely  to  be  my  future  destiny.  At 
first  I  was  inclined  to  weep,  and  to  lament  over  my  fate  ;  but 
after  a  little  consideration,  I  exclaimed,  '  O  my  soul !  am  I  to 
be  a  Pasha's  lady  ?  am  I  to  wear  fine  clothes  ?  am  I  to  be 
borne  in  a  litter  ?  Oh  !  the  delight  of  a  litter  will  be  too  great ! 
How  all  the  girls  of  the  mountains  will  envy  me  I' 

"After  some  time  had  elapsed,  looking  from  the  tents  into 
the  open  country,  I  saw  the  Mirakhor  and  his  party,  who  had 
not  failed  to  take  the  greyhound  with  him,  duly  dressed  out  in 
its  gayest  trappings,  making  their  way  along  the  side  of  the 
chain  of  hills  which  bordered  our  camp.  I  then  heard  my  father 
expressing  his  thankfulness  and  gratitude  for  having  so  well  got 
rid  of  such  unwelcome  visitors. 

"As  soon  as  they  were  fairly  out  of  sight,  he  dispatched  one 
of  his  shepherd's  boys  to  his  son  in  the  mountains,  ordering  him 
to  bring  back  the  mare  ;  and  when  the  animal  was  safely  lodged 
in  the  women's  tent,  he  called  together  the  elders  of  his  tribe, 
consisting  of  his  own  and  his  wives'  relations,  who  were  en- 
camped in  our  vicinity.  He  explained  to  them  the  situation  in 
which  he  was  placed ;  showing  that  his  and  their  destruction 
was  inevitable  should  they  continue  any  longer  in  the  territory 
of  the  Pasha,  who  would  not  fail  to  seize  this  opportunity  of 
levying  fines  and  exactions,  and  reducing  them  to  want  and  beg- 
gary. They  were  assembled  in  the  men's  tent,  to  the  number 
of  ten  persons ;  the  place  of  honor,  the  corner,  being  given  to 
my  father's  uncle,  the  elder  of  the  tribe,  an  old  man,  whose 
beard,  as  white  as  snow,  descended  to  his  girdle. 

"  'You  know,'  said  my  father,  'that  we  are  Yezeedies  ;  and 
you  know  also  the  hatred  which  all  Mussulmans  bear  to  us  : 
the  Pasha  has  hitherto  pretended  friendship  to  me  individually, 
because  I  have  fought  his  battles,  because  I  am  a  lion  in  the 
fight,  and  drink  the  blood  of  his  enemies ;  but  his  love  of 
money  is  so  great  that  nothing  can  satisfy  it ;  and  rather  than 
lose  this  opportunity,  he  would  see  me,  my  father,  my  grand- 
father, my  great-grandfather,  and  all  my  race  grilling  in  eternal 
fires.  We  are  too  few  to  resist  him,  although,  by  that  great 
Power  whom  we  all  worship,  if  we  had  not  wives  and  children 
to  protect,  I,  with  a  spear  in  ray  hand,  my  sword  by  my  side,  and 
mounted  on  my  mare — I  would  not  fear  to  encounter  the  whole 
host  of  his  dastardly  ragamuffins,  and  I  should  like  to  sec  the 


HISTORY    OF    ZEENAB — THE    DOCTOR'S    DISCOVERY.  131 

cherhaji^  that  would  face  me.  I  propose,  therefore,  that,  with- 
out a  moment's  delay,  we  abandon  the  Turkish  territor}',  and 
migrate  into  Persia,  where  we  shall  not  fail  to  meet  with  wel- 
come and  protection.' 

" '  Okous  Aga,'  said  his  uncle  to  him,  whilst  every  one 
seemed  to  listen  with  great  respect  to  what  he  would  say, 
'  Okous  Aga,  you  are  my  brother's  son  ;  you  are  my  child  : 
you  are  the  head  of  our  tribe,  and  our  best  support  and  pro- 
tection. If  I  were  to  advise  you  to  give  up  the  mare  to  the 
Pasha,  you  would  think  me  unworthy  of  being  a  Curd  and  a 
Yezeedi ;  and  even  were  he  now  to  get  possession  of  her,  we 
should  not  be  spared ;  for  such  is  the  experience  I  have  of 
Turkish  governors,  that  when  once  they  have  a  pretext  in 
hand  for  oppression,  they  never  fail  to  make  use  of  it.  There- 
fore, I  am  of  your  opinion — we  cannot  remain  here.  Old  as  I 
am,  and  accustomed  as  I  have  been  from  my  earliest  infancy  to 
graze  our  flocks  and  herds  upon  these  mountains — to  see  the 
san  rise  over  yonder  hill  and  set  in  that  distant  plain — much 
as  I  love  these  spots  upon  which  our  ancestors  have  been  bred 
and  born ;  yet  it  shall  not  be  said  that  I  have  been  the  cause 
of  the  ruin  of  our  tribe.  I  am,  therefore,  for  immediate  de- 
parture :  delay  now  would  be  dangerous.  In  two  more  days 
we  shall  be  visited  by  the  Pasha's  troops,  who  will  take  from 
us  hostages,  and  then  here  shall  we  be  fixed,  and  here  will  ruin 
overwhelm  us.  Let  us  go,  my  children  ;  God  is  great  and 
merciful.  The  time  may  come  when  you  will  be  restored  to 
your  ancient  seats,  and  when  you  may  again  range  from  your 
summer  pastures  to  your  winter  quarters,  and  from  your  win- 
ter quarters  to  your  pastures,  without  fear  and  apprehension.' 

"  When  he  had  done  speaking,  an  old  shepherd,  who  had 
great  experience  in  all  that  related  to  the  seasons,  and  con- 
siderable knowledge  of  the  country  between  our  mountains  and 
those  of  Persia,  spoke  as  follows  : — '  If  we  go,  we  must  go 
immediately,  for  a  day's  delay  might  stop  us.  The  snows  on 
the  mountains  are  already  beginning  to  melt,  and  the  torrents 
will  be  so  swollen  in  another  week,  that  we  shall  not  be  able  to 
get  the  sheep  across  them.  Besides,  it  is  now  about  three 
weeks  to  the  day  when  the  sun  enters  the  sign  of  the  Kam, 
at  which  time  our  ewes  will,  inshallah,  please  God,  bring- 
forth  in  plenty;  and  they  ought  to  have  performed  their  jour- 
ney and  be  at  rest  long  befoi-e  that  time.  We  ought  to  settle 
beforehand  in  what  tract  of  country  we  shall  fix  ourselves,  be- 

»  The  eherkajis,  (literally  icheelera  about,)  in  oriental  armies  are  sldrmislier?, 
who  are  thrown  out  from  the  main  body  to  engngo  in  the  fight,  and  are  gene- 
rally estccmuil  tlio  must  expert  horsomeu  and  the  best  soldiers. 


132  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

cause  the  Persian  wandering  tribes  are  very  tenacious  of  their 
rights  of  pasturage ;  and  should  we  trespass  uponi  them,  with- 
out proper  authority  from  the  government,  our  shepherds  and 
theirs  would  not  fail  to  come  to  blows,  and  God  only  knows  the 
cousequences.' 

"  '  He  speaks  true,'  exclaimed  my  father :  then  turning  to 
the  shepherd,  he  exclaimed,  'Well  said,  Karabeg;  well  done! 
you  are  a  good  servant,  and  you  have  given  good  advice.  Be- 
fore we  think  of  establishing  ourselves  in  Persia,  one  of  us 
must  go  to  Kermanshah,  and  ask  leave  of  the  Prince  to  ap- 
point us  to  a  good  country ;  and  when  once  we  have  got 
out  of  the  Pacha's  reach,  I  will  perform  that  service,  and  re- 
turn to  you  in  time  to  prevent  strife  with  the  other  wandering 
tribes.' 

"  The  assembly  being  unanimous  for  immediate  departure, 
my  father  gave  his  orders,  that  the  cattle  should  be  called  in, 
the  tents  broken  up,  and  the  oxen  in  readiness  to  receive  their 
loads  ;  that  the  camels  should  have  their  pack-saddles  put  upon 
them,  and  that  everything  should  be  in  readiness  to  depart  by 
midnight,  in  order  that  we  might  reach  our  first  stage  about  an 
hour  after  sunrise.  His  mare,  which  was  now  become  an  object 
of  the  first  consequence  to  the  tribe,  was  to  be  mounted  by  my 
father  in  person,  whilst  his  chief  wife,  with  her  children,  were 
to  travel  in  the  cajaveh  or  panniers ;  the  camel  which  was  to 
carry  them  being  ornamented  with  trappings  inlaid  with  beads, 
set  off  by  red  oloth  trimmings,  and  a  tiiick  profusion  of  tassels. 

"As  soon  as  this  was  known  by  the  women,  they  set  up 
shouts  of  wailing  and  lamentation.  The  evil  appeared  to 
them  greater  than  it  really  was;  for  they  expected  nothing  less 
than  the  immediate  approach  of  the  Pasha's  troops  to  seize 
upon  the  tribe,  and  carry  them  all  into  slavery. 

"As  for  me,"  said  Zcenab,  "my  misery  arose'from  another 
cause  ;  for  ever  since  I  had  overheard  the  conversation  between 
my  father  and  the  Mirakhor,  I  could  think  of  nothing  else  than 
of  the  charms  of  being  a  Pasha's  lady.  My  dream  was  now 
over,  and  instead  of  the  rich  dresses,  the  sumptuous  palaces, 
the  gilded  litters,  aud  the  luxury  of  state,  which  I  had  flattered 
myself  was  to  be  my  future  lot,  I  had  now  nothing  before  me 
but  my  old  drudgeries — the  loading  of  beasts,  the  packing  up 
of  baggage,  the  churning  of  milk,  and  the  making  of  butter. 

"  Our  whole  camp  was  now  in  motion  ;  and,  as  far  as  the  eye 
could  reach,  the  mountains  were  swarming  with  the  flocks  and 
herds  of  our  tribe,  which  were  driven  by  the  shepherds  towards 
their  different  encampments.  The  tents  were  taken  to  pieces, 
and  prepared  for  loading.     The  women,  who  took  the  greatest 


HISTORY    OF    ZEENAB — THE    DOCTOR'S   DISCOVERY.  133 

sltnre  in  the  labor  of  departure,  were  seen  everywhere  actively 
bestirring  themselves  to  pack  up  the  furniture  and  utensils.  The 
carpets  were  rolled  up ;  the  camel-trunks  filled ;  all  the  mate- 
rials for  making  butter  collected ;  and  the  pack-saddles  of  the 
mules,  oxen,  and  camels,  laid  out  for  immediate  use.  The 
cattle  being  arrived,  the  camels  were  made  to  kneel  down  in  a 
ring,  and  were  covered  with  their  pack-saddles :  the  oxen  had 
their  pads  put  upon  them  ;  and  the  mules  were  tied  in  strings 
of  five  or  seven  each,  and  ornamented  with  their  bells  and  thick 
felt  coverings.  The  sheep  and  goats,  in  the  meanwhile,  at 
the  close  of  day,  had  already  began  their  march,  guarded  by 
their  watch-dogs,  and  accompanied  by  their  shepherds,  one  of 
whom  walked  in  front,  whilst  the  whole  train  followed. 

"At  midnight  the  whole  camp  had  cleared  the  ground ;  and, 
as  the  day  dawned,  our  line  of  march  was  to  be  seen  to  a  great 
distance,  winding  along  the  mountains.  We  kept  a  track  little 
followed,  in  order  not  to  meet  any  one,  who  might  give  infor- 
mation of  our  movements  to  the  Pasha;  and,  after  several  days' 
march,  we  reached  the  frontiers  of  Persia,  with  much  fewer 
accidents,  and  much  less  difficulties,  than  might  have  been 
expected.  During  the  journey,  my  father,  in  conjunction  with 
the  principal  men  of  his  tribe,  kept  a  constant  lookout  in  the 
rear,  determined,  should  any  of  the  Pasha's  people  approach  us 
with  an  intention  of  impeding  our  progress,  they  would,  with- 
out hesitation,  make  every  resistance  in  their  power.  But  for- 
tune favored  us,  and  we  saw  none  but  shepherds,  belonging  to 
Curdish  tribes,  who  occupied  part  of  the  country  that  we 
traveled  over. 

"  When  we  had  reached  a  place  of  safety,  my  father  rode 
forwards  to  Kermanshah,  the  seat  of  government  of  a  powerful 
Prince,  one  of  the  king  of  Persia's  sons,  in  order  to  claim  his 
protection,  and  to  receive  his  permission  to  occupy  one  of  the 
pasturages  situated  within  the  Persian  territory.  We  waited 
for  his  return  with  great  anxiety,  for  in  the  meanwhile  we 
were  liable  to  an  attack  from  both  the  Turks  and  Persians ; 
but  as  it  is  the  policy  of  both  countries  to  entice  the  wander- 
ing tribes  into  their  territory,  we  met  with  no  molestation 
from  the  chief  of  the  Persian  town  which  happened  to  be  the 
nearest  to  us. 

"At  length  my  father  returned,  and  with  him  an  officer  be- 
longing to  the  prince,  who  assigned  us  a  tract  of  country, 
ahout  ten  parasangs  within  the  Persian  frontier.  Our  winter 
residence  was  situated  in  a  sheltered  nook  of  the  mountains, 
not  far  from  a  copious  spring  of  water ;  and  our  summer  quar- 
ters, about  three  days'  journey  off,  ^vere  described  as  situated 
12 


134  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

in  the  coolest  spot  of  the  adjacent  mountains,  abounding  in 
grass  and  water,  and  distant  from  any  chance  of  molestation 
from  the  Turks. 

"  My  father  was  a  man  well  known  at  Kermanshah,  and 
when  his  arrival  and  the  object  of  his  mission  were  known,  the 
Prince  expressed  great  pleasure,  treated  him  with  much  con- 
sideration, and  dismissed  him  invested  with  a  dress  of  honor. 
No  stipulations  were  made  as  to  the  terms  upon  which  he  was 
to  be  received,  and  unlimited  promises  of  protection  were  held 
out  to  him.  '  If  the  Pasha,'  said  the  Prince,  '  claims  you  and 
your  tribe,  as  the  property  of  his  government,  and  sends  me  a 
request  that  I  should  not  admit  you  into  mine,  I  will  burn  his 
father,  and  laugh  at  his  beard.  The  face  of  God's  world  is 
open  to  every  one,  and  if  man  is  ill-treated  in  one  spot,  he 
will  take  himself  where  better  treatment  is  to  be  found.'  In 
short,  we  settled,  and  returned  to  our  former  habits  and  occu- 
pations. 

"As  the  Prince  had  expected,  so  it  happened.  A  very  short 
time  after  our  arrival  an  officer  from  the  Pasha  appeared  at 
Kermanshah,  bearing  a  letter,  making  a  formal  demand,  that 
my  father,  with  the  whole  of  his  tribe,  should  be  sent  back  to 
his  territory  ;  and  stating  all  the  circumstances  relative  to  our 
flight.  My  father  was  called  a  thief,  and  accused  of  having 
stolen  a  mare  of  immense  value,  which  was  described  as  the 
Pasha's  property.  The  animal  was  demanded  to  be  instantly 
restored :  and  in  case  it  were  not,  threats  were  made  that  im- 
mediate reprisals  on  Persian  property  should  ensue.  The 
whole  of  these  circumstances  were  made  known  to  my  father, 
and  he  was  summoned  forthwith  to  appear  before  the  Prince. 

"  Consternation  seized  us  as  soon  as  this  intelligence  was 
known  amongst  us.  It  was  evident  that  the  Pasha  was  deter- 
mined to  leave  nothing  undone  to  regain  possession  of  the  mare, 
and  to  ruin  my  father ;  nor  could  it  be  supposed  that  a  weak 
and  poor  tribe  like  ours  was  likely  to  withstand  the  intrigues, 
bribes,  and  machinations  of  so  powerful  a  chief:  besides,  the 
possession  of  such  a  treasure  would  of  itself  be  a  crime  in  the 
eyes  of  the  Persians,  and  they  would  certainly  endeavor  to  get 
her  from  us,  if  not  now,  yet  at  some  more  favorable  oppor- 
tunity. It  would  soon  be  known  that  many  of  us  were  Ye- 
zeedies,  a  circumstance  of  itself  sufficient  to  excite  the  hatred 
and  execration  of  every  good  sectary  of  Ali ;  and  every  prob- 
ability existed,  even  supposing  the  mare  to  be  out  of  the  ques- 
tion, that  we  should  be  a  prey  to  every  sort  of  persecution  as 
soon  as  time  enough  should  have  passed  over  our  heads  for 
intrigue  to  have  worked  its  effects. 


HISTORY    OF    ZEENAB THE    DOCTOR'S    DISCOVERY.  135 

"  Before  my  father  left  us  to  attend  the  Prince's  summons, 
he  had  given  secret  orders  that  the  mare  should  be  put  into 
some  place  of  safety,  in  case  he  should  be  obliged  to  deny  that 
he  possessed  her;  but  on  his  return  we  found  that  such  a  pre- 
caution was  unnecessary.  He  had  been  kindly  received  by  the 
Prince,  who  had  assured  him  that  he  was  resolved  not  to  accede 
to  the  Pasha's  demands  in  any  one  case ;  that  ray  father  might 
enjoy  the  possession  of  his  mare,  and  depend  upon  protection 
and  security  as  long  as  he  remained  in  his  territory.  His 
words  were  something  to  this  purpose  :  '  Set  your  mind  at  ease, 
Okous  Aga.  As  long  as  you  remain  under  our  shade  you  may 
lay  your  head  on  your  pillow  in  full  security.  What  does  the 
Pasha  mean  by  claiming  you  and  your  tribe  as  the  subjects  of 
his  government  ?  The  gates  of  the  palace  of  my  father,  the 
Centre  of  the  iTni verse  and  King  of  Kings,  are  open  to  every 
one,  and  as  soon  as  the  stranger  has  touched  the  skirt  of  his 
robe  he  is  safe.  You  have  sought  our  protection,  and  we 
should  not  be  Mussulmans  if  we  refused  it.  Go,  return  to  your 
t&nts,  be  happy,  and  leave  the  Pasha  to  us.' 

"  This  produced  great  rejoicings  amongst  us  ;  and  my  father, 
to  celebrate  his  success,  gave  a  feast  to  the  chiefs  and  elders  of 
the  tribe,  where  our  present  situation  was  fully  discussed,  and 
our  plans  for  the  future  taken  into  consideration.  Every  one 
present  was  elated  with  the  success  that  had  attended  our  flight, 
excepting  one,  that  was  my  uncle.  He  had  seen  much  of  the 
Persians,  having  served  under  Nadir  Shah  when  a  youth,  and 
nothing  could  induce  him  to  put  any  faith  in  the  promises  and 
fair  words  of  the  Prince.  '  You  do  not  know  the  Persians,' 
said  he,  addressing  himself  to  the  assembly.  '  You  have  never 
had  any  dealings  with  them,  and,  therefore,  you  permit  your- 
selves to  be  lulled  into  security  by  their  flattering  expressions 
and  their  winning  and  amiable  manners.  But  I  have  lived 
long  with  them,  and  have  learned  the  value  of  what  they  say. 
Their  weapons  are  not  such  as  you  have  been  accustomed  to 
meet  in  the  bold  encounter,  and  the  open  attack  :  instead  of 
the  sword  and  spear,  theirs  are  treachery,  deceit,  falsehood  ; 
and  when  you  are  the  least  prepared,  you  find  yourselves  caught 
as  in  a  net :  ruin  and  desolation  surround  when  you  think  that 
you  are  seated  on  a  bed  of  roses.  Lying  is  their  great,  their 
national  vice.  Do  not  you  remark  that  they  confirm  every 
word  by  an  oatii  ?  What  is  the  use  of  oaths  to  men  who 
speak  the  truth  ?  One  man  swears  by  yonr  soul  and  by  his 
own  head,  by  your  child,  by  the  Prophet,  by  his  relations  and 
ancestors ;  another  swears  by  the  Kehlch,  by  the  king,  and  by 
his  beard  ;  a  third  by  your  death,  by  the  salt  he  eats,  and  by  the 


136  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

death  of  Imam  Hosein.  Do  tliey  care  for  any  one  of  these 
things  ?  No,  they  feel  all  the  time  that  they  lie,  and  then  out 
comes  an  oath.  Now  in  our  case,  is  it  to  be  supposed  that  we 
shall  be  left  unmolested  in  the  quiet  possession  of  this  mare, 
which  has  brought  so  much  misfortune  already  on  our  heads  ? 
The  Persians  are  more  wild,  if  possible,  on  the  subject  of 
horses  than  the  Turks,  and  an  Arabian  mare,  in  their  sight,  is 
of  greater  value  than  diamonds  and  rubies.  Should  the  Shah 
hear  of  the  one  we  possess,  he  will  instantly  send  for  it,  and 
what  are  we  to  do  then  ?  Shall  we  continue  in  arms  against 
all  the  world  ?  No,  my  fri'ends.  You  may  think  what  you 
please ;  but,  for  my  part,  I  look  upon  our  situation  as  precari- 
ous, and  advise  you,  as  a  general  rule,  not  to  put  your  trust  in 
Persians,  be  they  who  or  what  they  may.' 

"  The  event  proved  to  be  precisely  what  the  old  man  had 
predicted,  and  was  the  cause  of  placing  me  where  you  now 
see  me". 

"  One  morning,  about  an  hour  before  the  dawn  of  day,  we 
heard  an  unusual  stir  among  the  dogs  of  the  camp  ;  they  did 
not  cease  to  bark  and  make  a  most  furious  noise.  As  wewore 
accustomed  to  the  attacks  of  wolves,  who  were  kept  at  bay  I)y 
our  dogs,  we  did  not  at  first  pay  attention  to  the  disturbance  ; 
but  at  length  my  father  and  his  sons  arose,  and  taking  their 
guns  with  them,  went  to  see  what  could  have  happened.  They 
had  not  proceeded  twenty  steps  before  they  saw  a  horseman, 
and  then  a  second,  and  shortly  after  several  more  ;  in  short, 
they  discovered  that  their  tents  were  surrounded.  My  father 
immediately  gave  the  alarm,  and  instantly  all  the  camp  was  in 
motion.  The  horsemen  rushed  on  my  father,  and  attempted  to 
seize  him ;  but  he  shot  the  first  dead  at  his  feet,  and  with  his 
sword  wounded  the  second.  The  report  of  the  gun,  and  the 
noise  of  the  fray  was  a  signal  to  the  invaders  for  a  general 
attack,  and  in  a  short  time  our  camp  was  entered  at  every 
corner.  Their  principal  object  was  evidently  the  mare  ;  for  the 
women's  tent  was  attacked  first,  and  there  they  instantly  seized 
the  object  of  their  search. 

"As  the  day  dawned,  we  observed  that  our  invaders  were 
Persians,  and  we  also  soon  discovered  that  they  were  acting 
from  authority.  My  father  had  unluckily  killed  their  chief, 
and  that  was  a  sufficient  reason  for  our  being  made  prisoners. 
Conceive  our  situation  ;  it  was  a  scene  of  misery  that  I  shall 
never  forget.  My  father  was  treated  with  every  indignity  be- 
fore our  eyes ;  our  property  was  pillaged,  and — " 

Zeenab  was  proceeding  to  relate  to  me  how  she  became  the 
property  of  Mirza  Ahmak,  when  a  loud  knocking  at  the  gate 


HISTORY    OF    ZEENAB — THE    DOCTOR'S    DISCOVERY  131 

of  the  house  was  licard.  We  both  got  up  in  great  alarm.  My 
fair  one  entreated  me  to  take  my  departure  by  the  terrace, 
while  she  went  to  see  who  it  might  be.  By  the  voice,  that 
was  ordering  the  door  to  be  opened,  she  recognized  the  doctor 
Himself,  and  trusting  to  her  own  ingenuity  for  giving  good  rea- 
sons for  the  appearance  of  breakfast  and  good  cheer,  which  he 
would  perceive,  she  forthwith  unbarred  the  gate  and  admitted 
him. 

From  the  terrace  I  could  watch  all  that  was  going  on.  The 
doctor  appeared  quite  delighted  to  find  Zcenab  alone,  and 
made  her  some  speeches  so  full  of  tendei'ness,  that  there  was  no 
mistaking  how  his  affections  were  placed.  Looking  into  the 
window  of  his  wife's  apartment,  he  perceived  the  remains  of 
the  breakfast,  and  every  appearance  of  the  room  having  been 
occupied.  He  was  asking  some  questions  concerning  what  he 
saw,  when  in  came  the  khanum  herself,  followed  by  her  women. 
She  entered  the  house  so  unexpectedly,  that  she  appeared  be- 
fore them  ere  they  could  separate.  I  shall  never  forget  her 
look  and  attitude  at  this  sight. 

"  Selam  aleikiim  !  peace  be  unto  ye!"  said  she,  with  mock 
respect,  "  I  am  your  very  humble  servant.  I  hope  that  the 
htalth  of  both  your  excellencies  is  good,  and  that  you  have 
passed  your  time  agreeably.  I  have  arrived  too  soon,  I  fear." 
Then  the  blood  creeping  into  her  face,  she  very  soon  re- 
linquished her  raillery,  and  fell  tooth  and  nail  upon  her  un- 
happy culprits. 

"And  breakfast  too — and  in  ray  room.  Mashallah!  Ma- 
shollah  !  It  is  understood,  that  I  am  become  less  than  a  dog ; 
now  that  in  my  own  house,  on  my  own  carpet,  on  my  very 
pillow,  my  slaves  give  up  their  hearts  to  joy.  La  AUah  il  Al- 
Jah  !  There  is  but  one  God  !  I  am  all  astonishment !  I  am 
fallen  from  the  heavens  to  the  ground  !" 

Then  addressing  herself  to  her  husband,  she  said,  "As  for 
you,  Mirza  Ahmak,  look  at  me,  and  tell  me,  by  my  soul,  are 
you  to  be  counted  a  man  amongst  men  ?  A  doctor,  too,  the 
Loeman  of  his  day,  a  sage,  with  that  monkey's  face,  with  that 
goat's  beard,  with  that  humped  back,  to  be  playing  the  lover, 
the  swain  !  Curses  jittend  such  a  beard  !"  then  putting  up  her 
five  fingers  to  his  face,  she  said,  "Poof!  I  spit  on  such  a  face. 
Who  am  I,  then,  that  you  prefer  an  unclean  slave  to  me? 
What  have  I  done  that  you  should  treat  me  with  such  indig- 
nity ?  When  you  had  nothing  but  your  prescriptions  and  your 
medicines  in  the  world,  I  came  and  made  a  man  of  you.  You 
are  become  something,  thanks  to  me  !  You  now  stand  before 
a  king ;  men  bow  the  head  to  you.  You  wear  a  Cashmerian 
12* 


138  THE    ADVENTURES    OF    HAJJI    BABA. 

shawl :  you  are  become  a  person  of  substance.     Say,  then,  oh, 
you  less  than  man  !  what  is  the  meaning  of  all  this  ?" 

The  doctor,  during  this  attack  upon  him,  was  swearing 
abundance  of  oaths,  and  making  ten  thousands  of  exclamations 
in  proof  of  his  innocence.  Nothing,  however,  could  stop  the 
volubility  of  his  wife,  or  calm  her  rage.  By  this  time  she  had 
worked  her  passion  up  to  such  a  pitch,  that  oath  succeeded 
oath,  and  blasphemy  blasphemy,  in  one  raging,  unceasing  tor- 
rent. From  her  husband  she  fell  on  Zeenab,  and  froni  Zeenab 
she  returned  again  to  her  husband,  until  she  foamed  at  the 
mouth.  She  was  not  satisfied  with  words  alone,  but  seizing  the 
wretched  girl  by  one  of  the  long  tresses  which  hung  down  her 
back,  she  pulled  it  till  she  roared  with  pain  ;  then,  with  the  as- 
sistance of  the  other  slaves,  she  was  thrown  into  the  reservoir, 
where  they  beat  and  soused  her  until  both  pai'ties  were  nearly 
exhausted.  Oh,  how  I  burned  to  fly  to  her  rescue  I  My  body 
was  become  like  glowing  fire.  I  could  have  drunk  the  blood 
of  the  unfeeling  wretches.  But  what  could  I  do  ?  Had  I 
rushed  into  the  harem,  death  would  have  been  my  lot ;  for  most 
probably  they  would  have  impaled  me  on  the  spot :  and  what 
good  would  that  have  done  to  Zeenab  ?  She  would  have  even 
been  more  cruelly  treated  than  before,  and  the  doctor's  wife 
would  not  have  been  the  less  jealous.  So  when  the  storm  had 
subsided,  I  quietly  stept  down  from  my  hiding-place  on  the  ter- 
race, and  walked  into  the  open  country  without  the  town,  to 
consider  upon  the  course  which  I  ought  to  pursue.  To  remain 
with  the  doctor  was  out  of  the  question ;  and  to  expect  to  en- 
joy Zeenab's  company  again  was  folly.  My  heart  bled,  when 
I  reflected  what  might  be  the  fate  of  that  poor  girl ;  for  I  had 
heard  horrid  stories  of  the  iniquities  performed  in  harems,  and 
there  was  no  length  to  which  such  a  demon  as  the  khanum 
might  not  go  with  one  so  entirely  in  her  power. 


CHAPTER  XXYII. 

PREPARATIONS    TO    RECEIVE   THE    SHAH. 

In  my  walk  I  had  almost  determined  to  quit  the  doctor's 
house  immediately,  and  abandon  Teran,  such  was  the  desper- 
ate view  I  took  of  my  situation  ;  but  my  love  for  Zeenab  over- 
came this  resolution  ;  and  in  the  hope  of  seeing  her  again,  I 


PREPARATIONS   TO    RKCEIVE   THE    SHAH.  ISlS 

continued  to  drag  on  a  miserable  existence  as  a  dependent  on 
Mirza  Ahmak.  He  had  no  suspicion  that  I  was  his  rival,  and 
that  I  had  been  the  cause  of  the  late  confusion  in  his  hai-em  ; 
but  he  was  aware  that  some  one  must  have  had  access  to  it, 
and  therefore  took  such  precautions  for  the  future,  that  I  found 
great  difficulty  in  discovering  how  it  fared  with  ray  love,  or 
what  had  been  the  consequences  of  the  anger  of  the  khanum. 
I  daily  watched  the  door  of  the  auderun,  in  the  hope  of  seeing 
Zeenab  in  the  suite  of  her  mistress  when  she  went  out,  but  in 
vain :  there  was  no  indication  of  her,  and  my  imagination 
made  me  apprehend  either  that  she  was  kept  in  close  confine- 
ment, or  that  she  had  fallen  a  victim  to  the  violence  of  her  ene- 
mies in  the  narem.  My  impatience  had  risen  to  the  utmost  when 
I,  one  day,  perceived  that  iS^ur  Jehan,  the  black  slave,  had 
issued  from  the  house  by  herself,  and  was  making  her  way  to 
the  bazaar.  I  followed  her,  and  trusting  to  the  friendship  that 
she  formerly  entertained  for  the  mistress  of  my  heart,  I  ventured 
to  accost  her. 

"  Peace  be  with  you,  Nur  Jehan  1"  said  I ;  "  where  are  you 
going  in  such  haste  by  yourself?"  "  May  your  kindness  never 
be  less,  Aga  Hajji,"  answered  she  ;  "  I  am  bound  to  the  drug- 
gist's for  our  Curdish  slave." 

"What  I  Zeenab  ?"  exclaimed  I,  in  great  agitation.  "What 
has  befallen  her  ?     Is  she  sick  ?" 

"  Ah,  poor  thing,  "  replied  the  good  negro  girl,  "  she  has  been 
sick  and  sorry  too.  You  Persians  are  a  wicked  nation.  We 
who  are  black,  and  slaves,  have  twice  the  heart  that  you  have. 
You  may  talk  of  your  hospitality,  and  of  your  kindness  to 
strangers  ;  but  was  there  ever  an  animal,  not  to  say  a  human 
creature,  treated  in  the  way  that  this  poor  stranger  has  been  :  " 

"What  have  they  done  to  her ?  For  God's  sake,  tell  me, 
Nur  Jehan,"  said  I :  "  by  my  soul,  tell  me  !" 

Softened  by  my  manner,  and  by  the  interest  which  I  took  in 
what  she  said,  she  informed  me,  that  in  consequence  of  the 
jealousy  of  her  mistress,  Zeenab  had  been  confined  to  a  small 
back  room,  from  which  she  was  prohibited  stirring ;  that  the 
treatment  which  she  had  received  had  occasioned  a  violent  fever, 
which  had  brought  her  to  the  brink  of  the  grave,  but  that  her 
youth  and  strength  had  enabled  her  to  overcome  it :  and  now 
that  she  was  quite  recovered,  her  mistress  began  to  relent,  and 
had  permitted  her  to  use  the  k/iena*  and  the  surmeh,  which  she 
was  about  to  procure  from  the  druggist.  But  she  was  sure  that  this 

*  The  hliena  is  a  dyo  used  for  the  bands  and  the  foot,  and  hair.  1h.o  surmeh 
is  a  coUyrium. 


140  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

indulgence  would  nevei"  have  been  granted,  if  the  report  had 
not  been  spread,  that  it  was  the  Shah's  intention  to  pay  Mirza 
Ahmak  a  visit;  and  as  it  is  his  privilege  to  enter  every  man's 
harem  at  pleasure,  and  to  inspect  his  women  unveiled ;  her  mis- 
tress, who  wanted  to  make  as  great  a  display  of  slaves  and 
attendants  as  possible,  had  released  Zeenab  from  the  confine- 
ment of  her  room,  in  order  that  she  should  wait  upon  her  :  but 
she  was  still  restricted  to  the  walls  of  the  secret  chamber. 

I  was  relieved  by  this  intelligence,  and  began  to  turn  in  my 
mind  how  I  could  manage  to  obtain  an  interview ;  but  such  in- 
surmountable obstacles  did  I  foresee,  that,  fearful  of  entailing 
fresh  miseries  upon  her,  I  determined  to  remain  quiet  for  the 
present,  and  to  follow  the  poet's  advice, — "to  fold  up  the  car- 
pet of  my  desires,  and  not  to  prowl  round  and  round  my 
inclination.  " 

In  the  meanwhile,  the  day  of  the  Shah's  departure  for  his 
usual  summer  campaign  approached  ;  and,  according  to  custom 
he  passed  the  intermediate  time  in  visiting  the  noblemen  of  his 
court,  and  thereby  reaping  for  himself  and  his  suite  a  harvest 
of  presents,  which  every  one  who  is  distinguished  by  so  great 
an  honour  is  obliged  to  make. 

Nnr  Jehan's  intelligence  to  me  was  true  :  the  king  had  select- 
ed Mirza  Ahmak  as  one  of  those  to  whom  he  intended  the 
honor  of  a  visit ;  for  the  doctor  had  the  reputation  of  being  rich, 
and  he  had  long  been  marked  as  prey  fit  for  the  royal  grasp. 
Accordingly,  he  was  informed  of  the  day  when  this  new  and 
special  proof  of  favor  would  be  conferred  upon  him  ;  and  as  a 
most  distinguishing  mark  of  it,  he  was  told,  that  it  should  not 
be  an  ordinary  visit,  but  that  the  doctor  should  enjoy  the  sat- 
isfaction of  entertaining  his  majesty  :  in  short,  the  king  would 
take  his  sham,  or  dinner,  at  his  house. 

The  doctor,  half  elated  with  the  greatness  of  the  distinction, 
half  trembling  at  the  ruin  that  awaited  his  finances,  set  to  work 
to  make  all  the  necessary  preparations.  The  first  thing  to  be 
settled  was  the  value  and  nature  of  the  Pah-endaz.^  This  he 
knew  would  be  talked  of  throughout  the  country ;  and  this  was 
to  be  the  standard  of  the  favor  in  which  he  stood  with  his  sov- 
ereign. His  vanity  was  roused  on  the  one  hand,  and  his  avarice 
alarmed  on  the  other.  If  he  exhibited  too  much  wealth,  he 
would  remain  a  mark  for  future  exactions ;  and  if  he  made  no 
display,  his  rivals  in  consequence  would  treat  him  with  con- 
tempt.    He  had  not  deigned  to  consult  me  for  a  long  time,  and 

■•■■•  The  ceremony  of  the  2mh-enda~  consists  in  spreading  rich  stuffs  for  the 
king  to  walk  upon. 


PREPARATIONS   TO   RECEIVE   THE   SHAH.  141 

I  had  dwindled  into  a  mere  hanger-on  ;  but  recollecting  the 
success  which  had  attended  my  negotiation  with  the  European 
doctor,  he  called  me  again  into  his  councils. 

"  Hajji,  "  said  he,  "  what  is  to  be  done  in  this  difficult  case  ? 
I  have  received  a  hint,  that  the  king  expects  from  me  a  con- 
siderable pah-endaz,  and  this  from  the  lord  high  treasurer  him- 
self, whose  magnificence  on  such  occasions  is  the  theme  of 
wonder  throughout  the  whole  of  Persia.  Now,  it  is  impossible 
that  I  can  rival  him.  He  insisted,  that  I  ought  to  spread 
broadcloth  from  the  entrance  of  the  street  to  where  the  king 
alights  from  his  horse  ;  that  there  he  should  tread  upon  cloth 
of  gold,  until  he  reached  the  entrance  of  the  garden  ;  and  from 
thence,  the  whole  length  of  the  court  to  his  seat,  a  carpet  of 
Cashmerian  shawls  was  to  be  extended,  each  shawl  increasing 
in  value,  until  the  one  upon  the  musnuct,  or  carpet  of  state, 
which  should  be  of  an  extraordinary  price.  Now,  you  know 
I  am  not  the  man  to  make  such  display  :  I  am  a  hakim,  one  of 
the  learned  :  I  make  no  profession  of  riches.  Besides,  'tis  plain 
that  the  lord  high  treasurer  only  says  this,  because  he  has  cloth, 
brocades,  and  shawls  to  dispose  of,  which  he  wishes  me  to  take 
off  his  hands.  No,  it  is  impossible  that  I  can  listen  to  his 
extravagant  proposals.     What  then  is  to  be  done  ?" 

I  answered,  "  'Tis  true  that  you  are  a  hakim  ;  but  then  you 
are  the  royal  physician  ;  you  hold  a  situation  of  great  conse- 
quence :  besides,  for  the  sake  of  the  lady,  your  wife,  you  are 
bound  to  do  something  worthy  of  such  an  alliance.  The  king 
will  be  displeased  if  you  do  not  receive  him  in  a  manner  that 
will  show  your  sense  of  the  confidence  he  reposes  in  you." 

"Yes,"  said  the  Mirza,  "and  that  may  all  be  very  true, 
friend  Hajji ;  still  I  am  but  a  doctor,  and  cannot  be  supposed 
to  have  all  these  shawls,  brocades,  and  stuffs  by  me  whenever 
I  want  them.  " 

"But  what  can  you  do  otherwise?"  replied  I;  "you  would 
not  strew  the  road  with  jalap,  and  spread  "his  majesty's  seat 
with  a  blister  plaster?" 

"No,"  said  he ;  "  but  we  might  strew  flowers,  which,  you 
know,  are  cheap  ;  and  perhaps  we  might  sacrifice  an  ox,  and 
break  plenty  of  bottles  full  of  sweetmeats  under  his  horse's  feet. 
Would  not  that  answer  ?" 

"  It  is  impossible,"  exclaimed  I ;  "if  you  act  thus,  the  Shah, 
and  your  enemies,  will  devise  means  to  strip  you  as  naked  as 
my  hand.  Perhaps  there  is  no  necessity  to  do  all  the  lord 
high  treasurer  advises ;  but  you  might  spread  chintz  in  the 
street,  velvet  at  the  alighting  spot,  brocade  in  the  court-yard, 
and  shawls  in  the  room  ;  that  will  not  be  very  expensive." 


142  THE    ADVENTURES    OF    IIAJJI    BABA. 

"You  do  not  say  ill,"  said  the  doctor:  "I  might  perhaps 
manage  that.  We  have  chintz  in  the  house,  which  was  intended 
for  the  women's  trowsers  ;  that  will  probably  do.  A  patient 
gave  me  a  piece  of  Ispahan  velvet  the  other  day ;  I  can  sell  my 
last  dress  of  honor  for  some  brocade ;  and  two  or  three  of  my 
wife's  shawls  will  suffice  for  the  room.  By  the  blessing  of  Ali 
that  is  settled." 

"Ah,  but  the  harem!"  exclaimed  I;  "the  Shah  must  go 
there.  You  know  it  brings  good  luck  to  be  looked  at  by  the 
king,  and  your  women  must  appear  well  dressed  on  the 
occasion." 

"  Oh,  as  for  that,"  said  the  doctor,  "they  can  borrow  ;  they 
can  borrow  anything  they  like  from  their  friends — jewels, 
trowsers,  jackets,  shawls, — they  can  get  whatever  they  want." 

"Not  so,"  said  my  lady  the  khauum.  As  soon  as  this  ar- 
rangement was  mentioned  to  her,  she  protested  against  it ;  she 
called  her  husband  alow-born,  niggardly  carle;  one  unfit  for 
the  honor  of  possessing  her  for  a  wife ;  and  insisted  upon  his 
conducting  himself  on  this  occasion  in  a  manner  worthy  of  the 
high  distinction  that  was  about  to  be  conferred  upon  him.  It 
was  in  vain  to  contend  against  her  ;  and  therefore  the  prepa- 
rations were  made  upon  a  scale  far  exceeding  what  the  doctor 
had  intended  ;  and  every  individual  of  his  house  appeared  to  be 
actuated  by  only  one  feeling,  that  of  making  him  refund  all 
that  money  which  he  so  long  and  so  unpitifully  had  extorted 
from  others. 


CHAPTER    XXVIII. 

THE    shah's    reception    AND    CONVERSATION. 

On  the  morning  of  the  day  upon  which  this  great  event  M'as 
to  happen,  (a  day  which  had  been  duly  settled  as  auspicious 
by  the  astrologers)  the  note  of  ])reparation  was  heard  through- 
out the  whole  of  Mirza  Ahmak's  dwelling.  The  king's  tent- 
pitchers  had  taken  possession  of  the  saloon  of  audience  in 
which  he  was  to  hold  his  court,  where  they  spread  fresh  carpets 
and  prepared  the  royal  musnud,  covering  it  with  a  magnificent 
shawl.  They  threw  water  over  the  court  yard,  set  the  foun- 
tains playing,  and  fitted  on  a  new  curtain  to  the  front  of  the 
building.     The  king's  gardeners  also  came  and  decked  the  pre- 


THE    shah's    reception    AND    CONVERSATION.  143 

mises  with  flowers.  On  the  surface  of  the  pool  of  water, 
immediately  facing  the  spot  where  his  majesty  was  to  be  seated, 
they  spread  rose  leaves  iu  curious  devices.  Around  the  marble 
basin  they  placed  rows  of  oranges,  and  a  general  appearance 
of  freshness  and  cheerfulness  was  given  to  the  whole  scene. 

Then  the  cooks,  a  numerous  ancl  most  despotic  band,  arrived 
with  such  accompaniments  of  pots,  pans,  braziers,  and  boilers, 
that  the  doctor,  out  of  all  patience,  inquired  of  the  head  of  the 
kitchen,  "what  this  meant;  whether  it  was  intended  that  he 
should  feed  all  the  city,  as  well  as  the  king."  "Not  quite  all," 
Avas  his  answer  ;  "  but  perhaps  you  will  recollect  the  words  of 
Saadi : 

'If  from  the  peasant's  tree,  the  king  an  apple  craves, 
Down  with  it  root  and  branch,  exclaim  his  ready  slaves; 
And  should  ho,  in  dainty  mood,  one  single  egg  require, 
Lo  !  thousand  spitted  birds  revolve  before  the  fire.'  " 

They  took  possession  of  the  kitchen,  which  did  not  contain 
one  quarter  of  the  space  required  for  their  operations,  and 
consequently  it  was  necessary  to  erect  temporary  fire-places  in 
the  adjoining  court,  where  the  braziers  were  placed,  and  iu 
which  was  boiled  the  rice  that  is  distributed  on  such  occasions 
lo  all  present.  Besides  the  cooks,  a  body  of  confectioners 
established  themselves  in  one  of  the  apartments,  where  the 
sweetmeats,  the  sherbets,  the  ices,  and  the  fruits  were  prepared; 
and  they  called  for  so  many  ingredients,  that  the  doctor  hacl 
nearly  expired  when  the  list  was  presented  to  him.  In  addition 
to  all  these,  arrived  the  king's  band  of  singers  and  musicians, 
and  the  Luti  Bashi  (jester  in  chief,)  accompanied  by  twenty 
Lutis,  each  with  a  drum  hanging  across  his  shoulder. 

The  time  appointed  for  the  visit  was  after  the  evening's 
prayer,  which  is  made  at  sunset.  At  that  hour,  when  the  heat 
of  the  day  had  partly  subsided,  and  the  inhabitants  of  Tehran 
were  about  to  enjoy  the  cool  of  the  evening,  the  Shah  left  his 
palace,  and  proceeded  to  the  doctors  house.  The  streets  had 
been  swept  and  watered  ;  and  as  the  royal  cortege  approached, 
flowers  were  strewn  on  the  path.  Mirza  Ahmak  himself  had 
proceeded  to  the  royal  presence  to  announce  that  all  was  ready, 
and  walked  close  to  the  king's  stirrup  during  the  cavalcade. 

The  procession  was  opened  by  the  heralds,  who,  with  the 
distinguishing  club  of  office  in  their  hands,  and  ornament  on  the 
head,  proclaimed  the  king's  approach,  and  marshaled  every 
one  on  the  road.  The  tops  of  the  walls  were  occupied  by 
women  in  their  white  veils,  and  in  the  better  liouses  tliey  were 
to  be  seen  peeping  through  the  holes  made  in  the  screens  which 


144  THE    ADVENTURES    OF    HAJJI    BABA. 

surround  their  terraces.  Then  followed  a  great  body  of  tent- 
pitchers  and  carpet-spreaders,  with  long  slender  sticks  in  their 
hands,  keeping  the  road  clear  from  intruders.  After  this, 
walked  a  crowd  of  well  dressed  officers  of  the  stable,  bearing 
rich  embroidered  saddle  housings  over  their  shoulders ;  then 
servants  in  the  gayest  attire,  Avith  gold  pipes  in  their  hands, 
the  king's  shoe  bearer,  the  king's  ewer  and  basin  bearer,  the 
cari'ier  of  his  cloak,  the  comptroller  of  the  opium  box,  and  a 
number  of  other  domestics.  As  this  was  only  a  private  pro- 
cession, his  majesty  was  preceded  by  no  led  horses,  which 
usually  form  so  splendid  a  part  of  his  grand  displays.  To 
these  succeeded  a  train  of  running  footmen,  two  and  two,  fan- 
tastically dressed,  some  with  gold  coins  embroidered  on  their 
black  velvet  coats,  others  dressed  in  brocades,  and  others  in 
silks  :  they  immediately  preceded  the  Shah  in  person,  who  was 
attended  loy  the  chief  of  the  running  footmen,  a  man  of  consi- 
derable consequence,  known  by  the  enameled  handled  whip 
stuck  in  his  girdle.  The  king  rode  a  quiet  ambling  horse, 
richly  caparisoned  ;  but  his  own  dress  was  plain,  and  only  dis- 
tinguished by  the  beauty  of  the  shawls  and  other  materials  of 
which  it  is  composed.  After  him,  at  an  interval  of  fifty  paces, 
followed  three  of  the  king's  sons,  then  the  noble  of  nobles,  the 
great  master  of  the  ceremonies,  the  master  of  the  horse,  the 
court  poet,  and  many  others,  all  attended  by  their  servants; 
and  at  length  when  the  whole  party  were  collected  together, 
who  were  to  partake  of  Mirza  Ahmak's  substance,  five  hundred 
would  probably  be  called  a  moderate  number. 

The  king  alighted  at  the  gate,  the  entrance  being  too  narrow 
to  ride  through  ;  and  proceeded  up  the  centre  walk  of  the  court 
to  the  seat  prei)ared  for  him  in  the  great  saloon.  Every  one, 
except  the  princes,  stood  without,  and  the  doctor  himself  did 
the  duties  of  a  menial. 

After  his  majesty  had  been  seated  some  little  time,  the  mas- 
ter of  ceremonies,  accompanied  by  the  master  of  the  house, 
walking  barefooted,  appeared  near  the  reservoir,  the  latter 
liokling  up  breast-high  a  silver  salver,  in  which  were  spread 
one  hundred  tomauns  of  new  coinage.  The  master  of  cere- 
monies then  exclaimed,  in  a  loud  voice,  "  The  meanest  of  your 
majesty's  slaves  makes  a  humble  representation  to  the  Centre 
of  the  Universe,  the  King  of  Kings,  the  Shadow  of  God  upon 
earth,  that  Mirza  Ahmak,  the  king's  chief  physician,  dares  to 
approach  the  sacred  dust  of  your  majesty's  feet,  and  to  bring 
by  way  of  an  oficring  one  hundred  gold  tomauns." 

To  which  the  king  answered,  "You  are  welcome,  Mirza 
Ahmak.     Praise  be  to   God,  you  are  a  good  servant.     The 


THE    shah's    reception    AND    CONVERSATION.  145 

Shah  has  a  particular  share  of  condescension  for  you ;  your 
face  is  whitened,  your  consequence  has  increased.  Go,  give 
praises  to  God,  that  the  king  has  come  to  your  house,  and  has 
accepted  your  present." 

Upon  which  the  doctor  knelt  down  and  kissed  the  ground. 

Then  his  majesty,  turning  to  his  noble  of  nobles,  exclaimed, 
"By  the  head  of  the  Shah,  Mirza  Ahmak  is  a  good  man. 
There  is  no  one  like  him  now  in  Persia — he  is  wiser  by  far 
than  Locman — more  learned  than  Galen." 

"Yes,  yes,"  answered  the  noble  of  nobles:  "Locman  indeed! 
whose  dog  was  he,  or  Galen  !  This  also  comes  from  the  happy 
star  of  the  King  of  Kings.  Such  a  king  Persia  before  never 
saw,  and  such  a  doctor  for  such  a  king  1  Men  may. praise  the 
doctors  of  Europe  and  of  India,  but  where  is  science  to  be 
found,  if  it  be  not  in  Persia  ?  Who  shall  dare  to  claim  a 
superiority,  as  long  as  the  land  of  Persia  is  enlightened  by  the 
presence  of  its  Shah  without  compare  ?" 

"That's  all  true,"  said  the  king.  "Persia  is  the  country 
which,  from  the  beginning  of  the  world  to  the  present  day,  has 
always  been  famous  for  the  genius  of  its  inhabitants,  and  the 
wisdom  and  splendor  of  its  monarchs.  From  Kaiumars,  the 
first  king  of  the  world,  to  I,  who  am  the  present  Shah,  what 
list  is  so  perfect,  so  glorious  ?  India  also  had  her  sovereigns, 
Arabia  her  caliphs,  Turkey  her  Khon  Khors,  (lit.  blood  drink- 
ers,) Tartary  her  khans,  and  China  her  emperors  ;  but  as  for 
the  Franks,  Avho  come  into  my  dominions  from  God  knows 
where,  to  buy  and  sell,  and  to  bring  me  tributes  of  presents  ; — 
they,  poor  infidels  1  have  a  parcel  of  kings,  of  whose  countries 
even  the  names  have  not  reached  our  cars." 

"Belli,  belli,  yes,  yes!"  said  the  nobleman,  "I  am  your 
sacrifice.  Except  the  English  and  the  French  nations,  Avhich 
by  all  accounts  are  something  in  the  world,  all  the  others  are 
but  little  better  than  nothing.  As  for  the  Muscovites,  they  are 
not  Europeans — they  are  less  than  the  dogs  of  Europe." 

"Hal  Ha!  Ha!  you  say  true,"  answered  the  king,  laugh- 
ing. "They  had  their  Khurshid  Colah,"^  their  'Head  of 
Glory,'  as  they  called  her,  who  for  a  woman  was  a  wonderful 
person,  'tis  true — and  we  all  know  that  when  a  woman  meddles 
with  anything,  pena  he  Jchoda,  it  is  then  time  to  put  one's  trust 
in  God  ;  but  after  her,  they  had  a  Paul,  who  was  a  i)ure  madman ; 
who,  to  give  you  an  instance  of  what  his  folly  was,  wanted  to 
march  an  army  to  India ;  just  as  if  the  Kissil  JBas/ics-f  would 

*  Catharine  II.  is  so  styled  by  the  Persians. 

j-  Kizzil  Bash,  or  Red  Head,  is  a  sort  of  nick-namo  given  from  old  times 
to  the  Persians. 
13 


146  THE    ADVENTURES    OF    EAJJI    BABA. 

ever  have  allowed  it.  A  Russian  puts  on  a  hat,  a  tight  coat, 
and  tight  breeches,  shaves  his  beard,  and  then  calls  himself  a 
European.  You  might  just  as  well  tie  the  wings  of  a  goose  to 
your  back  and  call  yourself  an  angel." 

"Wonderful,  wonderful,"  exclaimed  the  head  of  the  nobles; 
"the  Shah-in-Shah  speaks  like  an  angel.  Show  us  a  king  in 
Europe  that  would  speak  like  him." 

"Yes,  yes,"  was  chorused  by  all  the  by-standers.  "May  he 
live  a  thousand  years,"  said  one.  "May  his  shadow  never  be 
less,"  said  another. 

"But  it  is  of  their  women,"  continued  the  king,  "of  whom 
we  hear  the  most  extraordinary  accounts.  In  the  first  place, 
they  have  no  anderun  in  their  houses  ;  men  and  women  all  live 
together — then  the  women  never  wear  veils — they  show  their 
faces  to  whoever  chooses  to  look  at  them,  like  those  of  our 
wandering  tribes.  Tell  me,  Mirza  Ahmak,  you  that  are  a 
doctor  and  philosopher,  by  what  extraordinary  arrangement  of 
Providence  does  it  happen,  that  we  Mussulmans  should  be  the 
only  people  on  earth  who  can  depend  upon  our  wives,  and  who 
can  keep  them  in  subjection.  You,"  said  his  majesty  smiling, 
ironically,  "you  I  hear  are  blessed  above  all  men  in  an  obe- 
dient and  dutiful  wife." 

"  Possessed  of  the  kindness  and  protection  of  the  King  of 
Kings,"  answered  the  doctor,  "  I  am  blessed  with  everything 
that  can  make  life  happy.  I,  my  wife,  my  family,  are  your 
humble  slaves,  and  everything  we  have  your  property.  If  your 
slave  possesses  any  merit,  it  is  none  of  his ;  it  all  emanates 
from  the  asylum  of  the  world  :  even  my  failings  become  virtues, 
when  the  king  commands  me.  'But  what  lamp  can  shine  in 
the  face  of  the  sun,  or  what  minaret  can  be  called  high  at  the 
foot  of  the  mountain  of  Alwend  V  With  respect  to  what  your 
majesty  has  been  pleased  to  say  concerning  women,  it  appears 
to  the  meanest  of  your  slaves,  that  there  must  be  a  great  affinity 
between  beasts  and  Europeans,  and  which  accounts  for  the 
inferiority  of  the  latter  to  Mussulmans.  Male  and  female 
beasts  herd  promiscuously  together ;  so  do  the  Europeans. 
The  female  beasts  do  not  hide  their  faces  :  neither  do  the  Euro- 
peans. They  wash  not,  nor  do  they  pray  five  times  a  day  ; 
neither  do  the  Europeans.  They  live  in  friendship  with  swine; 
so  do  the  Europeans ;  for  instead  of  exterminating  the  unclean 
beast,  as  we  do,  I  hear  that  every  house  in  Europe  has  an 
apartment  fitted  up  for  its  hog.  Then  as  for  their  women  in- 
deed ! — What  dog  seeing  its  female  in  the  streets  does  not  go 
and   make  himself  agreeable  ? — so  doubtless  does  the  Euro- 


THE   shah's   reception -and   C0N"V' eksatiox.  14*7 

pean.    Wife  in  those  unclean  countries  must  be  a  word  without 
a  meaning,  since  every  man's  wife  is  every  man's  property." 

"Well  said,  doctor,"  exclaimed  the  king:  "'tis  plain  then, 
that  all  are  beasts  but  us.  Our  holy  Prophet,  (upon  whom  be 
blessing  and  peace  !)  has  told  us  as  much.  The  infidel  will 
never  cease  roasting,  whilst  the  true  believer  will  be  eternally 
seated  next  to  his  houri  in  the  seventh  heaven  1  But  we  hear,, 
doctor,  that  your  Paradise  has  began  here  on  earth,  and  that 
you  have  got  your  houris  already  : — hah  I  how  is  that  ?" 

Upon  which  Mirza  Ahmak  made  a  low  prostration,  and  said, 
"Whatever  the  monarch  permits  his  slave  to  possess  is  the  mo- 
narch's. The  hour  will  be  fortunate,  and  Mirza  Ahmak's  head 
will  reach  the  skies,  when  the  propitious  step  of  the  King  of 
Kings  shall  pass  the  threshold  of  his  unworthy  anderini.''^ 

"We  shall  see  with  our  own  eyes,"  rejoined  the  king ;  "  a 
look  from  the  king  brings  good  luck.  Go,  give  notice  to  your 
harem  that  the  Shah  will  visit  it ;  and  if  there  be  any  one  sick 
— any  one  whose  desires  are  unaccomplished — any  maiden  who 
sighs  for  her  lover,  or  any  wife  who  wishes  to  get  rid  of  her 
husband, — let  them  come  forward,  let  them  look  at  the  king, 
and  good  fortune  will  attend  them." 

Upon  this  the  poet,  who  had  hitherto  remained  silent,  his 
mind  apparently  absorbed  in  thought,  exclaimed,  "  Whatever 
the  king  hath  ordained  is  only  an  additional  proof  of  his  bene- 
ficence and  condescension,"  and  then  in  very  good  verse  he 
sung — 

"The  firmament  possesses  but  one  sun,  and  the  land  of  Irak 
but  one  king. 

"  Life,  light,  joy,  and  prosperity  attend  them  both  wherever 
they  appear. 

"  The  doctor  may  boast  of  his  medicine  ;  but  what  medicine 
is  equal  to  a  glance  from  the  king's  eye  ? 

"What  is  spikenard?  what  ?numiai?^-  what  pahzer"?  com- 
pared even  to  the  twinkling  of  a  royal  eyelash  ! 

"  Oh !  Mirza  Ahmak,  happiest  of  men,  and  most  blessed  of 
doctors  1 

"Now,  indeed,  you  possess  within  your  walls  an  antidote  to 
every  disorder,  a  specific  against  every  evil. 

"  Shut  up  your  Galen,  burn  your  Hippocrates,  and  put  Avi- 
cenna  in  a  corner  :  the  father  of  them  all  is  here  in  person. 

"  Who  will  take  cassia  when  an  eye  is  to  be  had,  or  will 
writhe  under  a  blister  when  a  look  will  relieve  him  ? 


*  Mnmiai  antl  Pahzei-  are  antidotes  in  which  the  Persi 
Our  Bezonr  is  evidently  a  eorruplion  of  Pahzc.r. 


ans  have  great  faith. 


148  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

"  Oh  !  Mirza  Abmak,  happiest  of  men,  and  most  blessed  of 
doctors !" 

Evei'y  one  present  bad  kept  the  strictest  silence  when  this 
was  repeating,  Avhen  the  king  exclaimed,  "  Jferin,  this  is  well ; 
you  are  indeed  a  poet,  and  worthy  of  our  reign.  Who  was 
Ferdousi  when  compared  to  you  ?  As  for  Mahmud,  the  Ghaz- 
nevi,  hak  bud,  (he  was  dirt.)  Go  to  him,"  said  he  to  the  noble 
of  nobles,  "  go,  kiss  him  on  the  mouth,  and,  when  that  is  done, 
fill  it  with  sugar-candy.  Every  pleasure  should  attend  such  a 
mouth,  from  whence  such  good  things  proceed." 

Upon  which  the  noble  of  nobles,  who  was  endowed  with  a 
large  and  bushy  beard,  approached  the  poet,  and  inflicted  a 
kiss  upon  his  mouth,  which  also  was  protected  by  an  appro- 
priate quantity  of  hair ;  and  then  from  a  plate  of  sugar-candy, 
which  was  handed  to  him,  he  took  as  many  lumps  as  would 
quite  fill  his  jaws,  and  inserted  them  therein  with  his  fingers 
with  all  due  form. 

Though  evidently  distressed  with  his  felicity,  the  poet  did 
his  utmost  to  appear  at  the  summit  of  all  happiness,  and 
grinned  with 'such  rare  contortions,  that  involuntary  tears 
flowed  from  his  eyes  as  fast  as  the  sugar-candy  distilled  through 
his  lips. 

The  king  then  dismissed  his  courtiers  and  attendants,  and 
preparations  were  made  for  serving  up  the  royal  dinner. 


CHAPTER    XXIX. 

THE    ENTERTAINMENT GREAT   MISFORTUNE. 

The  only  persons,  besides  servants,  admitted  into  the  saloon 
where  the  Shah  dined,  were  the  three  princes,  his  sons,  who  had 
accompanied  him ;  and  they  stood  at  the  farthest  end,  with 
their  backs  against  the  wall,  attired  in  dresses  of  ceremony, 
with  swords  by  their  sides-.  Mirza  Ahmak  remained  in  attend- 
ance without.  A  cloth,  of  the  finest  Cashmerian  shawl  fringed 
with  gold,  was  then  spread  on  the  carjiet  before  the  king,  by  the 
chief  of  the  valets,  and  a  gold  ewer  and  basin  were  presented 
for  washing  hands.  The  dinner  was  then  brought  in  trays, 
which,  as  a  precaution  against  poison,  had  been  sealed  with 
the  signet  of  the  head  steward  before  they  left  the  kitchen,  and 
were  broken  open  by  him  again  in  the  presence  of  the  Shah 


THE    ENTERTAINMENT — GREAT    MISFORTUNE.  149 

Here  were  displayed  all  the  refinements  of  cookery ;  rice,  in 
various  shapes,  smoked  upon  the  board  ;  first,  the  chilau,  as 
white  as  snow  ;  then  the  pilau,  with  a  piece  of  boiled  lamb, 
smothered  in  the  rice  ;  then  another  pilau,  with  a  baked  fowl  in 
it ;  a  fourth,  colored  with  saffron,  mixed  up  with  dried  peas  ; 
and  at  length,  the  king  of  Persian  dishes,  the  narinj  pilau, 
made  with  slips  of  orange-peel,  spices  of  all  sorts,  almonds  and 
sugar :  salmon  and  herring,  from  the  Caspian  Sea,  were  seen 
among  the  dishes ;  and  trout  from  the  river  Zengi,  near  Eri- 
van ;  then  in  china  basins  and  bowls  of  different  sizes  were  the 
ragouts,  which  consisted  of  hash  made  of  a  fowl  boiled  to  rags, 
stewed  up  with  rice,  sweet  herbs,  and  onions ;  a  stew,  in  which 
was  a  lamb's  marrow-bone,  with  some  loose  flesh  about  il,  and 
boiled  in  its  own  juice ;  small  gourds,  crammed  with  force- 
meat, and  done  in  butter ;  a  fowl  stewed  to  rags,  with  a  brown 
sauce  of  prnnes ;  a  large  omelette,  about  two  inches  thick  ;  a 
cup  full  of  the  essence  of  meat,  mixed  up  with  rags  of  lamb, 
almonds,  prunes  and  tamarinds,  which  was  poured  upon  the  top 
of  the  cliilau ;  a  plate  of  poached  eggs,  fried  in  sugar  and 
butter ;  a  dish  of  badenjans,  slit  in  the  middle  and  boiled  in 
grease  ;  a  stew  of  venison  ;  and  a  great  variety  of  other  messes 
too  numerous  to  mention.  After  these  came  the  roasts.  A 
lamb  was  served  up  hot  from  the  spit,  the  tail  of  which,  like 
marrow,  was  curled  up  over  its  back.  Partridges,  and  what  is 
looked  upon  as  the  rarest  delicacy  in  Persia,  two  ccqik  dereh, 
partridges  of  the  valley,  were  procured  on  the  occasion.  Phea- 
sants from  Mazanderan  were  there  also,  as  well  as  some  of  the 
choicest  bits  of  the  wild  ass  and  antelope.  The  display  and 
the  abundance  of  delicacies  surprised  every  one  ;  and  they  were 
piled  up  in  such  profusion  around  the  king,  that  he  seemed 
almost  to  form  a  part  of  the  heap.  I  do  not  mention  the  in- 
numerable little  accessories  of  preserves,  pickles,  cheese,  butter, 
onions,  celery,  salt,  pepper,  sweets,  and  sours,  which  were  to 
be  found  in  different  parts  of  the  tray,  for  that  would  be  tedi- 
ous :  but  the  sherbets  were  worthy  of  notice,  from  their  pecu- 
liar delicacy :  these  were  contained  in  immense  bowls  of  the 
most  costly  china,  and  drank  by  the  help  of  spoons  of  the  most 
exquisite  workmanship,  made  of  the  pear-tree.  They  consisted 
of  the  common  lemonade,  made  with  superior  art ;  of  the 
sel-enjebin,  or  vinegar,  sugar,  and  water,  so  mixed  that  the  sour 
and  the  sweet  were  as  equally  balanced,  as  the  blessings  and 
the  miseries  of  life  ;  the  sherbet  of  sugar  and  water,  with  rose- 
water  to  give  it  a  perfume,  and  sweet  seeds  to  increase  its  fla- 
vor ;  and  that  made  of  the  pomegranate ;  all  highly  cooled  by 
lumps  of  floating  ice. 
13* 


150  THE    ADVENTURES    OF    HAJJI    BABA. 

The  king  then,  doubling  himself  down  with  his  head  reclining 
towards  his  food,  buried  his  hand  in  the  pilaus  and  other  dishes 
before  him,  and  eat  in  silence,  whilst  the  princes  and  the  ser- 
vants in  waiting,  in  attitudes  of  respect,  remained  immovable. 
When  he  had  finished  he  got  up,  and  walked  into  an  adjoining 
room,  where  he  washed  his  hands,  drank  his  coffee,  and  smoked 
his  water-pipe. 

In  the  course  of  his  eating  he  ordered  one  of  the  pilaus,  of 
which  he  had  partaken,  to  be  carried  to  Mirza  Ahmak,  his 
host,  by  a  servant  in  waiting.  As  this  is  considered  a  mark  of 
peculiar  honor,  the  mirza  was  obliged  to  give  a  present  in 
money  to  the  bearer.  A  similar  distinction  was  conferred  upon 
the  poet  for  his  impromptu,  and  he  also  made  a  suitable  present. 
His  majesty  also  sent  one  of  the  messes,  of  which  he  had  freely 
partaken,  to  the  doctor's  wife,  who  liberally  rewarded  the  bearer. 
And  in  this  manner  he  contrived  to  reward  two  persons,  the 
one  who  received  the  present,  and  the  other  who  bore  it. 

The  princes  then  sat  down,  and  when  they  had  eat  their  fill 
they  rose,  and  the  dishes  were  served  up  in  another  room, 
where  the  noble  of  nobles,  the  court  poet,  the  master  of  the 
horse,  and  all  the  officers  of  state  and  courtiers  who  had  at- 
tended his  majesty  were  seated,  and  who  continued  the  feast 
which  the  king  and  his  sons  had  began.  After  this,  the  dinner 
was  taken  in  succession  to  the  different  servants,  until  the  dishes 
were  cleared  by  the  tent-pitchers  and  scullions. 

In  the  meanwhile  the  Shah  had  been  introduced  into  the 
harem  by  the  doctor  in  person ;  and  as  immediate  death  would 
have  been  inflicted  upon  any  one  who  might  have  been  caught 
peeping,  I  waited  in  the  greatest  suspense  to  learn  what  might 
have  taken  place  there  ;  but  what  was  my  horror  !  what  my  con- 
sternation !  on  hearing  (as  soon  as  the  king  had  returned  to  the 
great  saloon)  that  the  doctor  had  made  a  present  of  his  Curdish 
slave  to  his  majesty  1  At  this  intelligence  I  grew  sick  with 
apprehension ;  and,  although  there  was  every  reason  to  rejoice 
at  her  leaving  her  present  situation,  yet  there  were  consequences 
which  I  anticipated, — consequences  which  might  even  ultimately 
affect  her  life,  at  the  very  thought  of  which  my  blood  ran  cold. 
We  had  been  too  much  enamored  to  listen  to  the  dictates  of 
prudence,  and  now  the  future  opened  a  prospect  to  me,  the 
back-ground  of  which  was  darkened  by  images  the  most  horri- 
ble that  the  imagination  can  conceive. 

"I  v/ill  endeavor,"  thought  I,  "to  gain  some  certain  intelli- 
gence of  what  has  happened  ;  perhaps  in  the  confusion  I  may 
chance  to  get  a  sight  of  Zeenab  herself."  I  lost  no  time, 
therefore,  in  resorting  to  our  old  place  of  meeting  on  the  ter- 


THE    ENTERTAINMENT GREAT    MISFORTUNE.  151 

race.  Much  noise  and  clatter  was  heard  below  amongst  the 
women,  a  large  number  having  come  as  visitors,  in  addition  to 
those  which  composed  the  doctor's  harem  ;  but  I  could  perceive 
no  one  amongst  them  that  looked  at  all  like  her  I  sought: 
indeed,  the  night  had  closed  in,  and  I  despaired  of  making  any 
sign  which  might  be  recognized  :  but,  trusting  to  the  sympathies 
of  love,  I  thought  it  certain  that  she  would  hit  upon  precisely 
the  same  plan  which  I  had  devised  to  see  her.  Part  of  the 
terrace  where  our  first  interview  had  taken  place  was  situated 
near  the  street,  and  upon  this  the  women  of  the  harem  were 
accustomed  to  take  their  station  whenever  anything  remarkable 
was  to  be  seen  abroad.  Here  I  hoped  Zeenab  would  not  fail 
to  come  at  the  moment  of  the  Shah's  departure,  which  was  now 
close  at  hand.  The  clatter  of  the  horses,  the  shouts  of  men, 
the  passing  to  and  fro  of  lanterns,  all  announced  the  close  of 
the  scene  ;  and  to  my  delight  I  heard  a  corresponding  shuffling 
of  women's  slippers  and  voices  making  for  the  steps  of  the  ter- 
race. I  had  placed  myself  behind  the  wall,  so  as  to  be  seen  by 
those  only  who  had  a  knowledge  of  the  premises,  and  I  flattered 
myself  that  Zeenab,  by  a  natural  impulse,  would  turn  her  eyes 
towards  me.  I  was  not  mistaken.  She  was  among  the  women 
who  had  ascended  the  terrace,  and  she  recognized  me.  That 
was  all  I  wanted,  and  I  left  it  to  her  ingenuity  to  devise  a  mode 
of  conversation  with  me. 

The  cry  of  GitcMn  1  Begone  !  made  by  the  heralds  whenever 
the  king  rises  to  depart,  was  now  heard,  and  every  one  arranged 
himself  "in  the  procession.  With  the  exception  of  the  numerous 
lanterns,  which  by  their  size  announced  the  dignity  of  the  differ- 
ent personages  whose  steps  they  lighted,  the  ceremony  of  the 
king's  return  to  his  palace  was  the  same  as  on  his  leaving 
it,  and  with  his  majesty  departed  all  that  had  a  moment  before 
given  life  and  animation  to  the  place. 

The  women,  satisfied  that  nothing  more  was  to  be  seen,  also 
left  the  terrace.  Their  conversation,  during  the  time  of  their 
stay,  had  consisted  almost  entirely  of  disputes  of  who  had  been 
most  seen  and  admired  by  the  Shah ;  and,  as  they  were  descend- 
ing, I  overheard  great  expressions  of  envy  and  jealousy  at  the 
good  fortune  which,  in  their  eyes,  had  fallen  to  the  share  of 
Zeenab. 

"I  can't  conceive,"  said  one,  "what  the  Shah  could  have 
seen  so  attractive  in  her.  After  all,  she  has  no  beauty.  Did 
you  ever  see  so  large  a  mouth  ^  Slie  has  no  salt  in  her  com- 
plexion." 

"  She  is  crooked,"  said  another. 


15^  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

"  As  for  her  waist,"  said  a  third,  "  'tis  like  that  of  an  ele- 
phant ;  and  then  her  feet, — a  camel  has  smaller." 

"And  then,"  said  a  fourth,  "she  is  a  Yezeedi.  She  must 
have  got  a  charm  from  the  sheitan  himself,  to  make  herself  re- 
marked." "That  is  the  truth,"  they  all  exclaimed:  "Yes, 
that's  it — she  and  the  devil  are  in  partnership  to  make  the  king 
eat  dirt."  Upon  this  they  all  seemed  satisfied,  and  I  heard  no 
more  of  them. 

But  one  woman  still  remained  behind  on  the  terrace,  ap- 
parently engrossed  with  what  was  passing  on  in  the  street ;  she 
immediately  rose  when  the  others  had  left  it,  and  came  towards 
me.     It  was  Zeenab. 


CHAPTER  XXX. 

LAST    INTERVIEW    WITH    ZEENAB. 

The  wall  behind  which  I  had  taken  post  was  not  long  a  bar- 
rier between  us,  and  I  had  scarcely  made  known  to  her  the  un- 
happy state  of  my  mind,  before  she  apprised  me  of  the  danger 
that  we  incurred  in  such  an  interview.  She  soon  gave  me  to 
understand  that  this  must  be  our  last  meeting  ;  for,  as  she  now 
belonged  to  the  royal  harem,  death  would  be  our  fate  if  we  were 
found  together.  I  was  anxious  *^to  hear  in  what  manner  the 
king  had  gained  possession  of  her,  and  what  was  to  be  her 
future  destiny ;  but  sobs  stifled  everything  I  had  to  say.  She, 
on  the  other  hand,  did  not  appear  to  take  our  separation  quite 
so  much  to  heart ;  for,  whether  dazzlea  by  the  prospect  of  her 
future  destinies,  or  subdued  by  the  miseries  she  had  already  en- 
dured on  my  account,  certainly  I  did  not  meet  that  return  to 
my  affection  which  I  had  so  warmly  anticipated. 

She  informed  me,  that  when  the  Shah  entered  the  anderun, 
he  was  received  by  a  band  of  female  singers,  Avho  went  before 
singing  his  praises,  to  the  accompaniment  of  tamborines  ;  and, 
as  soon  as  he  had  seated  himself  in  the  open  saloon,  the  khauuui 
was  permitted  to  enjoy  the  privilege  of  kissing  his  knee.  A 
pahendaz,  composed  of  embroidered  silks,  had  been  spread  for 
him,  which,  as  soon  as  the  royal  footsteps  had  passed  over, 
was  snapped  up  by  the  eunuchs,  who  shared  it  as  their  per- 
quisite. The  king's  female  master  of  the  ceremonies  was  in 
attendance,  and  she  made  an  offering  of  the  khanum's  present, 


LAST    INTERVIEW    WITH    ZEENAB  Wd 

wMch  was  laid  out  on  a  silver  tray,  and  consisted  of  six  arac 
ffirs,  or  skull  caps,  embroidered  by  that  lady's  own  hands ;  six 
si)ieh  girs,  or  breast  covers,  made  of  padded  shawl,  worn  in 
cold  weather  over  the  shirt ;  two  pair  of  trowsers  of  Cashmerian 
shawl ;  three  silk  shirts,  and  six  pairs  of  stockings,  knitted  l)y 
the  women  of  the  doctor's  house.  His  majesty  having  accepted 
this,  with  many  encomiums  on  the  khanum's  industry  and  skill, 
the  women  were  marshaled  in  two  lines  on  each  side  of  him  ; 
"  and  I,"  said  Zeenab,  "  in  order  that  every  mortification  pos- 
sible might  be  heaped  upon  me,  was  placed  the  last  in  the  row, 
even  below  Nur  Jehan,  tlie  black  slave.  You  ought  to  have 
seen  the  pains  which  all  of  us,  even  old  Leilah,  took  to  attract 
the  Shah's  attention  :  some  were  bashful,  others  stole  wicked 
looks  and  glanced  sideways  ;  others,  again,  were  bold,  and  kept 
their  eyes  fixed  on  the  king's  face.  Having  inspected  each  in 
turn,  he  paused,  and  keeping  his  eyes  riveted  upon  me,  turned 
to  the  doctor,  and  said,  'What  sort  of  thing  is  this  ?  she  is  no 
indifferent  commodity.  By  the  king's  Jika,"^  the  animal  is  fine  ! 
Doctor,  mashallah  !  you  have  a  good  taste, — the  moon  face,  the 
stag  eye,  the  cypress  waist,  everything  is  here.' 

"  Upon  which  the  doctor,  making  the  lowest  obeisance,  said, 
'  May  I  be  your  sacrifice,  notwithstanding  the  slave  is  totally 
imworthy  of  notice  ;  yet,  since  I  and  everything  that  belongs  to 
me  is  the  property  of  the  King  of  Kings,  may  I  venture  to 
place  her  as  an  offering  at  the  foot  of  your  majesty's  throne  V 

'"Caboul!  I  accept  her,'  said  the  Shah;  and  then  calling 
the  chief  eunuch  to  him,  he  ordered  that  I  should  be  educated 
for  a  baziger,  (dancer  or  singer,)  that  all  my  clothes,  &c.,  should 
be  made  suited  to  my  future  profession,  and  that  I  should  be 
ready  accomplished  to  appear  before  him  upon  his  return  from 
his  summer  campaign. 

"  Oh !  I  shall  never  forget,"  exclaimed  Zeenab,  "  the  looks 
of  the  doctor's  wife  when  this  conversation  was  passing  ;  she 
turned  towards  the  Shah  in  great  humility,  acquiescing  in  all 
that  was  said,  and  then  cast  glances  upon  me,  which  spoke  the 
thousand  angry  passions  by  which  her  breast  was  agitated. 
As  for  the  Georgian,  she  looked  daggers  and  arsenic,  whilst 
Nur  Jehan's  good-humored  face  was  lightened  up  with  every 
expression  of  happiness  at  my  good  fortune.  I,  in  the  mean- 
while, prostrated  myself  to  the  ground  before  the  king,  who 
still  kept  surveying  me  with  a  kind  aspect. 

"  As  soon  as  his  majesty  was  gone,  you  ought  to  have  seen 

*  The  ji' i'Z:a  is  an  upright  ornament  worn  in  front  of  the  crown,  and  is  an 
insignia  of  royalty. 


154  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

the  immediate  change  which  took  place  in  the  khanum's  conduct 
towards  me.  I  was  no  longer  '  a  child  of  the  devil,'  '  a.  maiden 
accursed ;'  but  it  was  '  my  love,  my  soul,  light  of  my  eyes,  my 
child.'  I,  who  had  never  smoked  before  her,  was  now  invited 
to  partake  of  her  own  pipe ;  and  whether  I  would  or  not,  she 
thrust  bits  of  sweetmeat  into  my  mouth  with  her  own  fingers. 
As  for  the  Georgian,  she  could  not  stand  the  sight,  but  with- 
drew to  another  place,  to  digest  her  envy  as  she  might.  I  re- 
ceived the  congratulations  of  the  other  women,  who  did  not 
cease  repeating  a  long  list  of  delights  that  were  preparing  for 
me.  Love,  wine,  music,  jewels,  fine  clothes,  bathing,  and  stand- 
ing before  the  king,  were  to  be  my  future  occupations.  Some 
talked  to  me  of  the  best  spells  to  secure  love,  and  to  destroy 
the  influence  of  rivals  ;  others  gave  me  the  best  advice  how  to 
get  presents  of  finery  ;  and  many  again  began  to  teach  me  the 
forms  of  speech  and  compliment  which  I  must  use  in  case  the 
Shah  spoke  to  me.  In  short,  poor  I,  the  most  miserable  and 
neglected  of  human  beings,  all  of  a  sudden  found  myself  the 
object  of  universal  attention  and  admiration." 

Zeenab  here  finished  talking,  and  the  joy  which  she  seemed 
to  feel  for  the  change  which  was  about  to  take  place  in  her 
situation  was  so  natural,  that  I  could  not  find  in  my  heart  to 
destroy  it  by  communicating  to  her  my  forebodings  of  the 
danger  which  awaited  her.  She  little  knew  the  horrible  penalty 
she  would  incur,  in  case,  when  called  upon  to  attend  the  Shah, 
fche  should  be  found  unworthy  of  his  attentions ;  for  it  was  upon 
record,  under  such  circumstances,  that  death,  a  horrid,  cruel 
death,  had  been  inflicted,  and  that  v/ithout  appeal  to  any  tri- 
bunal upon  earth.  I  therefore  seemed  to  partake  of  her  happi- 
ness, and  although  we  felt  we  must  be  separated,  yet  we  were 
consoled  with  the  hope  that  opportunities  of  mutual  intel- 
ligence would  not  be  wanting.  * 

She  told  me  that  one  of  the  king's  eunuchs  was  to  call  on  the 
following  morning,  to  conduct  her  to  the  seraglio,  and,  when 
bathed  and  newly  dressed,  she  was  to  be  delivered  over  to  the 
department  of  the  Bazigers,  when  her  education  was  imme- 
diately to  commence. 

Hearing  her  name  repeatedly  called,  she  was  afraid  of  risking 
herself  longer  with  me,  and  after  ten  thousands  and  thousands 
protestations  of  mutual  love,  we  parted,  perhaps  to  meet  no 
more. 


CHAPTER  XXXI. 

REFLECTIONS EXERTS    HIS    SKILL    AS    A    DOCTOR. 

A  s  soon  as  she  was  gone  I  sat  down  on  the  same  spot  where 
we  had  been  standing,  and  gave  myself  up  to  thought.  "So," 
said  I  to  myself,  "so,  this  is  being  two  kernels  in  one  almond  ? 
Well,  if  such  be  the  world,  then  what  I  have  been  taken  up 
with  for  these  two  last  mouths  is  only  a  dream.  I  thought 
myself  a  Majnoun,  and  she  a  Leilah,  and  as  long  as  the  sun 
and  moon  endured  we  should  go  on  loving,  and  getting  thin, 
and  bm-ning  like  charcoal,  and  making  kabob  of  our  hearts. 
But  'tis  clear  that  my  beard  has  been  laughed  at.  The  Shah 
came,  looked,  said  two  words,  and  all  was  over.  Hajji  was 
forgotten  in  an  instant,  and  Zeenab  took  upon  herself  the  airs 
of  royalty.  Be  it  so  :  there  are  plenty  of  women  besides  in  the 
world ;  but  the  best  of  it  is,  that  Hajji  has  eaten  the  sweet- 
meat, whilst  the  Shah  only  gets  the  paper  it  was  wrapped 
up  in." 

I  passed  a  feverish  night,  and  rose  early  in  the  morning,  full 
of  new  projects.  In  order  to  reflect  more  at  my  ease,  I  deter- 
mined to  take  a  walk  without  the  city  walls,  but  just  as  I  had 
stepped  from  the  house,  I  met  Zeenab  mounted  on  a  horse, 
finely  caparisoned,  conducted  by  one  of  the  royal  eunuchs,  and 
escorted  by  servants  making  way  for  her  to  pass.  I  expected, 
that  at  the  sight  of  me  she  would  have  lifted  up  the  flap  of  her 
veil :  but  no,  she  did  not  even  move  from  her  perpendicular  on 
the  saddle,  and  I  walked  on,  more  determined  than  ever  to 
drive  her  from  my  recollection.  But,  somehow  or  other,  in- 
stead of  taking  my  path  to  the  gate  of  the  city,  I  followed  her, 
and  was  led  on  imperceptibly  towards  the  king's  palace. 

Entering  the  great  square,  which  is  situated  iuimediately  be- 
fore the  principal  gate,  I  found  it  filled  with  cavalry,  passing 
muster,  or  the  soum,  as  it  is  called,  before  the  Shah  in  person, 
who  was  seated  in  the  upper  room  over  the  porch.  I  lost 
Zeenab  and  her  conductor  in  the  crowd,  who  were  permitted  to 
pass,  whilst  I  was  kept  back  by  the  guards.  The  current  of 
my  thoughts  was  soon  arrested  by  the  scene  carrying  on  before 
me.  The  troops  now  under  examination  consisted  of  a  body 
of  calvary  under  the  command  of  Noinerd  Khan,  the  chief  exe- 
cutioner,  who   was   present,    mounted   on   a   superb   charger, 

(155) 


156  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

dressed  in  cloth  of  gold,  with  the  enameled  ornament  on  his 
head  glittering  in  the  sun.  The  review  was  quite  new  to  me : 
and  as  I  gazed  upon  the  horses  and  the  horsemen,  the  spears 
and  the  muskets,  the  days  which  I  had  passed  among  the  Tur- 
comans came  again  to  my  mind,  and  I  longed  once  more  to 
be  engaged  in  active  life.  The  troops  to  be  reviewed  were 
stationed  on  one  side  of  the  square.  The  secretary  at  war  with 
his  six  scribes  were  placed  in  the  middle,  taken  up  with  their 
different  registers  :  two  criers  were  also  present,  the  one  who, 
with  a  loud  voice,  called  out  the  name  of  the  soldier,  and  the 
other  answering  hazir  (present)  as  soon  as  he  had  passed  mus- 
ter. Whenever  a  name  was  called,  a  cavalier,  completely 
equipped,  dashed  from  the  condensed  body,  and  crossed  the 
square  at  the  full  speed  of  his  horse,  making  a  low  obeisance  as 
he  passed  the  Shah ;  and  this  ceremony  was  performed  by  each 
man  until  the  whole  were  reviewed.  Many  and  various  were 
the  appearance  of  the  horsemen.  Some  came  forwards  in  fine 
style,  looking  like  Rustams,  whilst  others,  who  had  perhaps 
borrowed  a  beast  for  the  occasion,  went  hobbling  through  as  if 
the  day  of  battle  had  already  taken  place.  I  recognized  many 
of  my  acquaintance  as  they  galloped  by,  and  was  admiring  the 
animated  manner  of  a  young  man,  who  had  urged  his  horse 
forwards,  when,  by  some  fatal  accident,  the  beast  fell  just  as 
they  were  about  passing  the  high  pole  which  is  erected  in  the 
middle  of  the  course,  and  its  rider  was  thrown  with  great  vio- 
lence against  the  foot  of  it.  He  was  immediately  taken  up  and 
carried  through  the  crowd.  Some  one,  recognizing  me  to  be- 
long to  the  Shah's  physician,  invited  me  to  take  charge  of  him, 
and,  without  the  least  apprehension  from  my  ignorance,  I  did 
not  hesitate  to  put  on  the  airs  of  a  doctor.  I  found  the  un- 
fortunate man  stretched  on  the  ground,  apparently  without  life. 
Those  who  surrounded  him  had  already  prescribed  largely. 
One  was  pouring  water  down  his  throat,  "  in  the  nam&^  the- 
bless^  Hosein ;"  another  was  smoking  a  pipe  up  his  nose  in 
order  to  awaken  him  ;  and  a  third  was  kneading  his  body  and 
limbs,  to  promote  circulation.  As  soon  as  I  appeared,  these 
diiferent  operations  were  suspended,  and,  room  being  made,  I 
felt  his  pulse  with  great  solemnity,  and  as  the  surrounding 
uplifted  faces  seemed  to  solicit  a  decision,  I  declared,  with 
emphasis,  that  he  had  been  struck  by  fate,  and  that  life  and 
death  were  now  wrestling  with  each  other  who  should  have 
him.  Thus  (according  to  the  practice  of  my  master)  having 
prepared  my  hearers  for  the  worse,  I  ordered,  as  a  preliminary 
to  other  remedies,  that  the  patient  should  be  well  shaken,  in 
order  to  discover  if  life  was  in  him  or  no.     No  prescription  was 


REFLECTIONS EXERTS    HIS    SKILL    AS    A    DOCTOR.  157 

ever  better  administered,  for  the  crowd  almost  shook  him  to 
dislocation.  This  had  no  effect.  I  was  about  prescribing 
again,  when  a  cry  was  heard  in  the  crowd.  Rah  bedeh,  give  way : 
Ser  liisah,  heads,  heads  !  and  the  Frank  doctor  (of  whose  skill 
I  have  before  given  some  account)  made  his  appearance,  having 
been  sent  by  his  ambassador,  who  had  witnessed  the  catas- 
trophe. Without  having  seen  the  patient,  he  cried  out,  "  Take 
blood  instantly  :  you  must  not  lose  a  moment." 

I,  who  now  felt  myself  called  upon  to  assert  the  dignity  of 
the  Persian  faculty,  and  give  proof  of  my  superior  wisdom, 
said,  "  Take  blood  !  what  doctrine  is  this  ?  Do  not  you  know 
that  death  is  cold,  and  that  blood  is  hot,  and  that  the  first  prin- 
ciple of  the  art  is  to  apply  warm  remedies  to  cold  diseases  ? 
Pocrat*  who  is  the  father  of  all  doctors,  has  thus  ordained,  and 
surely  you  cannot  say  that  he  eats  his  own  soil.  If  you  take 
blood  from  that  body,  it  dies ;  and  go  tell  the  world  that  I 
say  so." 

"As  for  that,"  said  the  Frank,  who  had  now  examined  it, 
"we  may  save  ourselves  any  further  trouble  :  it  is  dead  already, 
and  hot  and  cold  are  now  all  one."  Upon  this  he  took  his 
leave,  and  left  me  and  my  Pocrat  with  our  noses  in  the  air. 

"Then  death,"  said  I,  "  has  had  the  best  of  it;  the  wisdom 
of  man  is  unavailing,  when  opposed  to  the  decrees  of  God.  We 
doctors  can  no  more  contend  with  destiny,  than  the  waters  of 
an  aqueduct  can  overcome  those  of  a  river." 

A  Mollah,  who  was  present,  ordered  his  feet  to  be  turned 
towards  the  Kebleh,  his  two  great  toes  to  be  tied  together,  a 
handkerchief  wrapped  under  his  chin,  and  fastened  "over  his 
head,  and  then  all  the  bystanders  after  him  repeated  aloud  the 
profession  of  the  true  fiiith.  By  this  time  some  of  his  relatives 
had  gathered  round  him,  and  had  begun  the  usual  lamentations, 
when  the  bier  was  brought,  and  the  dead  body  conveyed  to  his 
family. 

Upon  inquiry  I  found  that  the  deceased  had  been  a  NasaJccM, 
i.  e.  one  of  the  officers  attached  to  the  chief  executioner,  who 
has  one  hundred  and  fifty  such  under  his  command,  and  whose 
duties  consist  in  preceding  the  Shah  in  his  marches,  dispersing 
crowds,  maintaining  order,  taking  charge  of  state  prisoners, 
and,  in  short,  acting  as  police  officers  throughout  the  country. 
It  immediately  struck  me,  how  agreeable  and  how  convenient  it 
would  be  to  step  into  the  dead  man's  shoes,  and  how  much 
better  my  temper  and  disposition  were  suited  to  filling  such  an 
office  than  mixing  drugs  and  visiting  the  sick.     In  turning  over 

*  So  Ilippociates  is  cjiUcd  iu  Persia. 

14 


158  THE    ADVENTURES    OF    IIAJJI    BABA. 

in  my  mind  the  possibility  of  acquiring  this  situation,  I  recol- 
lected that  the  chief  executioner  was  a  great  friend  of  Mirza 
Ahraak,  and  under  considerable  obligations  to  him ;  for,  but  a 
few  days  since,  he  had  persuaded  the  doctor  to  swear  to  the 
Shah,  that  wine,  which  is  strictly  prohibited  at  court,  was  ab- 
solutely necessary  for  his  health,  and  that  in  consequence  he 
had  received  a  dispensation  from  the  head  of  the  law  to  drink 
it — a  privilege,  in  which  he  indulged  to  the  greatest  excess.  I 
therefore  determined  to  interest  the  Mirza  in  my  favor,  and  if 
possible,  to  turn  the  waters  of  bitterness,  wdiich  the  fountain  of 
fate  had  been  pouring  into  the  cup  of  the  deceased,  into  streams 
of  sweet  sherbet  for  myself. 


CHAPTER  XXXII. 

HAJJI   BECOMES    AN    EXECUTIONER. 

I  WATCHED  an  opportunity  before  the  doctor  set  out  the  next 
morning  for  the  JDer-Khoner,*  to  speak  upon  my  future  plans, 
and  to  request  him  to  lose  no  time  in  asking  for  me  the  place 
of  the  deceased  Nasakchi  from  the  chief  executioner.  I  urged 
the  necessity  of  acting  immediately ;  for  as  the  Shah  would 
leave  the  capital  for  his  camp  at  Sultanieh,  in  the  course  of  a 
few  days,  and  as  the  doctor  would  be  called  upon  to  accom- 
pany him,  it  was  plain,  if  he  did  not  in  some  manner  provide 
for  me,  I  should  be  left  upon  his  hands. 

The  doctor,  who  was  still  calculating  the  expenses  of  his 
entertainment  to  the  Shah,  and  had  resolved  upon  adopting  a 
system  of  more  rigid  economy  in  his  household,  was  not  sorry 
to  lose  a  hungry  hanger-on,  and  without  hesitation  he  promised 
to  assist  me.  It  was  agreed  between  us,  that  he  would  forth- 
with call  upon  the  chief  executioner,  and  appointed  me  to  meet 
him  at  court,  after  the  morning's  Selam  (levee)  was  over.  As 
soon,  therefore,  as  the  mid-day  prayer  had  been  announced 
from  the  mosque,  I  went  to  the  palace,  and  took  ray  station 
without  the  room  which  is  appropriated  for  the  use  of  the  head 
executioner,  and  w'hich  is  situated  with  its  large  window  imme- 
diately facing  the  principal  gate.  Several  persons  were  col- 
lected there.     He  himself  was  taken  up  with  saying  his  prayers 

*•  The  gate  of  the  palace,  where  public  business  is  transacted. 


HAJJI    BECOMES    AN    EXECUTIONER.  159 

in  a  corner,  and  apparently  completely  abstrocted  fi-om  a  con- 
versation that  was  carrying  on  between  my  friend  the  poet 
laureate  and  the  under  master  of  ceremonies. 

The  latter  was  describing  to  the  former  the  death  of  the 
unfortunate  Nasakchi,  and  was  mixing  a  considerable  portion 
of  the  marvelous  in  his  narrative,  when  the  chief  executioner, 
from  the  middle  of  his  devotions,  cried  out,  ''  Een  derough  est,'''' 
— "  that's  a  lie — have  patience,  and  I  will  tell  you  how  it  was," 
and  then  went  on  with  his  holy  invocations.  As  soon  as  they 
were  over,  and  almost  before  he  had  finished  his  last  prostra- 
tion, he  began  his  story,  relating  the  fact  with  infinitely  more 
exaggeration  than  the  master  of  the  ceremonies  had  done,  and 
finishing  by  a  round  assertion,  that  the  Frank  had  bled  the 
poor  man  to  death,  after  the  Persian  doctor  had  brought  him 
to  life  only  by  shaking  him. 

During  the  chief  executioner's  narration,  Mirza  Ahmak 
entered  the  room,  and  far  from  denying  what  was  asserted  of 
the  two  doctors,  he  confirmed  it  the  more  by  new  and  stronger 
circumstances,  and  then  finished  by  pointing  to  me,  and  said, 
"This  is  he  who  would  have  saved  the  Nasakchi's  life,  if  he 
had  not  been  prevented."  Upon  this,  the  eyes  of  all  present 
were  turned  upon  me,  and  I  was  called  upon  to  relate  the  whole 
circumstance  as  it  had  happened,  which  I  did,  making  my  ver- 
sion coincide  as  nearly  as  possible  with  Avhat  had  been  already 
related  ;  but  giving  all  the  merit  of  the  science  which  I  had 
displayed  to  the  tuition  of  the  chief  physician.  Mirza  Ahmak, 
elated  by  my  praise,  was  full  of  zeal  to  serve  me,  and  he  then 
introduced  me  to  the  chief  executioner  as  a  man  fit  and  willing 
to  undertake  the  ofQce  of  the  deceased  Nasakchi. 

"How  !"  said  the  head  of  the  Nasakchies,  " a  doctor  become 
an  executioner  !  how  can  that  be  ?" 

"There  is  no  harm  in  that,"  said  the  poet  (looking  at  the 
doctor  through  the  corner  of  his  eye) — "  they  are  both  in  the 
same  line — tlie  one  does  his  business  with  more  certainty  than 
the  other,  that's  true;  but  after  all,  it  signifies  little  whether 
a  man  dies  gradually  Ijy  a  pill,  or  at  once  by  a  stroke  of  the 
scymetar." 

"As  for  that,"  retorted  Mirza  Ahmak,  "to  judge  of  others 
by  you,  poets  are  in  the  same  line  too  ;  for  they  murder  men's 
reputations  ;  and  everybody  will  agree  with  mc,  that  that  is  a 
worse  sort  of  killing  than  the  doctor's,  (as  you  are  pleased  to 
say,)  or  the  Nasakchi's." 

"That's  all  very  well,"  exclaimed  the  chief  executioner; 
"you  may  kill  in  any  manner  you  choose  provided  you  leave 
me  the  soldier's  manner.     Give  me  good  hard  fighting — let  me 


160  THE    AnVEXTTJRES    OP    HAJJI    BABA. 

have  my  thrust  witli  the  lance,  and  ray  cut  with  the  sabre,  and 
I  want  nothing  more — let  me  snuff  up  the  smell  of  gunpowder, 
and  I  leave  the  scent  of  the  rose  to  you,  Mr.  Poet — give  me 
but  the  roar  of  cannon,  and  I  shall  never  envy  you  the  song 
of  the  nightingale.  We  all  have  our  weaknesses — these  are 
mine." 

"Yes,"  said  the  master  of  the  ceremonies,  addressing  him- 
self to  the  whole  assembly  :  "  Everybody  knows  your  several 
merits.  The  Shah  particularly  (who  by  the  by  has  studied  the 
art  of  killing  as  well  as  any  of  you)  is  frequently  expressing 
his  delight,  that  of  all  the  monarchs  which  Persia  ever  had,  he 
is  the  best  served ;  and  with  that  feeling,  he  talks  of  carrying 
his  arms  into  the  very  heart  of  Georgia.  If  the  Russians  once 
hear  that  you  are  going  amongst  them,"  addressing  himself  to 
the  chief  executioner,  "  they  may  begin  to  make  their  accounts 
clear  in  this  world,  and  prepare  for  the  next." 

"  What  are  the  Russians  ?"  said  the  executioner,  with  half  a 
shrug  and  half  a  shiver  :  "  they  are  dust — they  are  nothing — 
the  possession  of  Georgia  by  the  Russians  is  to  Persia  what  a 
flea  which  has  got  into  my  shirt  is  to  me ;  it  teazes  me  now  and 
then,  but  if  I  gave  myself  the  least  trouble,  I  would  hunt  it 
out  in  a  minute.  The  Russians  are  nothing."  Then,  as  if  lie 
were  anxious  to  waive  the  subject,  he  turned  to  me,  and  said, 
"Well,  I  agree  to  take  you  into  the  service,  provided  you  are 
as  fond  of  'the  smell  of  powder  as  I  am.  A  Nasakchi  must 
have  the  strength  of  a  Rustam,  the  heart  of  a  lion,  and  the 
activity  of  a  tiger."  Then  looking  at  me  from  head  to  foot, 
he  seemed  pleased  with  my  appearance,  and  forthwith  ordered 
me  to  go  to  his  Naih,  or  lieutenant,  who  would  equip  me  for 
my  office,  and  give  me  instructions  respecting  the  duties  which 
I  should  have  to  perform. 

I  found  the  Naib  in  the  midst  of  preparations  for  the  depar- 
ture of  the  Shah,  giving  his  orders,  and  receiving  the  reports 
of  those  under  his  command.  As  soon  as  he  was  informed  that 
I  was  the  man  appointed  to  succeed  the  deceased  officer,  he 
put  me  in  possession  of  his  horse  and  its  accoutrements,  gave 
me  strict  injunctions  to  take  the  greatest  care  of  it,  and  in- 
formed me  that  I  could  not  be  provided  with  another  unless  I 
brought  back  its  tail  and  the  mark  peculiar  to  the  royal  horses, 
which  is  burnt  on  its  flank.  My  stipend  was  fixed  at  thirty 
tomauns  per  annum,  with  food  for  myself  and  horse.  _  I  found 
myself  in  dress  and  arras,  except  a  small  hatchet,  which  indi- 
cated my  office,  and  which  was  provided  by  the  government. 

But  before  I  proceed  further,  it  is  necessary  that  I  make  my 
reader  acquainted  with  the  person  and  character  of  Namerd 


HAJJI    BECOMES    AN    EXECUTIONER.  161 

Kahn,  my  new  master.  He  was  a  tall,  square-shoalderccl,  bony- 
man,  about  forty-five  years  of  age — young  enough  to  be  still 
called  a  khuh  juan  (a  fine  youth.)  The  features  of  his  face 
were  cast  in  a  deep  mould,  and  shaded  by  1)lack  and  thick  eye- 
brows, as  well  as  by  a  jet  black  beard  and  moustaches.  His 
hand  was  particularly  large  and  muscular ;  and  from  the  black 
hairs  that  curled  out  from  the  crevices  of  his  shirt,  it  was  evi- 
dent that  his  fur  was  of  the  thickest  quality.  Altogether  he 
was  of  a  figure  commanding,  but  coarse,  and  looked  his  office 
greatly  to  the  advantage  of  the  peace  of  the  city,  for  the  very 
sight  of  him  was  sufficient  to  awe  the  evil-minded.  He  was 
the  most  celebrated  kliosh  giizeran  (sensualist)  in  Tehran.  He 
drank  wine  without  compunction,  and  frequently  cursed  the 
moUahs,  who  promised  him  a  seat  in  the  regions  below  for  hold- 
ing the  injunctions  of  the  Prophet  so  cheap.  His  house  was 
the  seat  of  revelry  ;  the  noise  of  singing  and  tambours  was 
heard  there  from  night  till  morning.  He  kept  men  dancers 
and  women  dancers  ;  and  was  the  protector  of  every  Luti,* 
however  impudent  and  obscene  he  might  be.  But  with  all  this, 
he  did  not  in  the  least  relax  in  the  severities  of  his  office  ;  and 
one  might  frequently  hear,  amid  the  sounds  of  revelry,  the  cries 
and  groans  of  soule  unfortunate  wretch  who  was  writhing  under 
the  torture  of  the  bastinado  on  his  feet.  He  was  an  excellent 
horseman,  and  very  dexterous  at  the  spear  exercise  ;  and  al- 
though there  was  everything  in  his  appearance  to  make  one 
believe  that  he  was  a  soldier  and  a  man  of  prowess,  yet  in  fact 
he  was  a  most  arrant  coward.  He  endeavored  to  conceal  this 
defect  of  his  nature  by  boasting  and  big  words  ;  and  succeeded 
in  persuading  those  who  did  not  know  his  real  character,  that 
he  was  among  the  modern  Persians,  what  Sam  and  Afrasiabf 
were  among  the  ancient. 

His  lieutenant,  a  man  of  stern  aspect,  was  an  active  and 
intelligent  officer :  he  understood  the  management  of  his  chief, 
whom  he  flattered  into  a  belief,  that,  besides  the  Shah  and 
himself,  no  one  was  worthy  to  be  called  a  man  in  Persia.  I 
soon  discovered  that  his  prevailing  passion  was  avarice  ;  for 
when  he  found  that  I  was  to  be  installed  into  my  office  without 
making  him  a  present,  there  was  no  end  to  the  difficulties  which 
he  threw  in  my  way.  However,  by  dint  of  making  use  of  that 
tongue  .which  nature  had  given  me,  and  persuading  him,  in  his 
turn,  that  he  was  the  cream  of  lieutenants,  and  the  very  best  of 


*  Luti  here  is  used  in  llio  sense  of  j^olisson. 

f  Celebrated  heroes  in  the  Shahnameh,  a  book  which  is  believed,  by  the 
present  Persians,  to  coutiuu  their  ancient  history. 

14* 


162  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

materials  for  the  future  executioner  in  chief,  he  relaxed  in  his 
dislike,  and  even  flattered  me  so  much  as  to  say,  that,  "by  the 
blessing  of  Allah,  the  benign  and  the  merciful,  he  believed  that 
I  should  not  fail  to  become  in  time  an  ornament  to  the  pro- 
fession." 

I  still  kept  my  lodging  at  the  doctor's  house  until  the  period 
of  the  Shah's  departure,  and  filled  up  my  time  in  preparing  for 
the  journey.  The  very  circumstance  of  being  a  Nasakchi  gave 
me  consec^uence  in  the  bazaar,  and  I  found  no  difficulty  in  pro- 
curing everything  that  I  wanted  upon  credit.  During  my  stay 
with  the  doctor,  I  had  managed  to  set  myself  up  with  a  small 
capital  of  necessaries,  which  I  had  procured  either  in  pi'esents 
from  patients,  or  by  happy  contrivances  of  my  own.  As  for 
instance,  I  wanted  a  bed,  a  quilt,  and  a  pillow :  a  poor  man 
happening  to  die  under  our  charge,  I  assured  his  relations, 
whom  I  knew  to  be  the  most  bigoted  of  Mussulmans,  that  his 
death  could  be  no  fault  of  ours,  for  no  one  could  doubt  the 
skill  with  which  he  had  been  treated,  but  that  the  bed  upon 
which  he  lay  must  be  unfortunate ;  for,  in  the  first  place,  the 
quilt  was  of  silk  ;*  and,  in  the  next,  the  foot  of  the  bed  had  not 
been  turned  towards  the  kebleh,f  as  it  ought  to  have  been  :  this 
was  enough  for  the  family  to  discard  the  bed,  and  it  became 
mine. 

A  looking-glass  was  necessary  to  my  toilet :  a  mirza,  sick  of 
the  jaundice,  looked  at  himself  in  one  which  he  possessed,  and 
was  horror-struck  at  his  color.  I  assured  him  that  it  only  pro- 
ceeded from  a  defect  in  the  glass,  for  that  in  fact  he  was  as 
fresh  as  a  rose.  He  threw  it  away,  and  I  took  it  home  with 
me. 

ISTo  one  was  stricter  than  Mirza  Ahmak  himself  in  all  the 
exteriors  of  religion,  and  scrupulous  to  a  fault  about  things 
forbidden  as  unclean.  I  was  in  want  of  a  pair  of  yakhdans,  or 
trunks,  and  a  pair  belonging  to  the  doctor,  which  were  lying 
idle  in  an  unfrequented  room,  were  frequently  the  objects  of  my 
contemplation.  How  shall  I  manage  to  become  master  of 
these  ?  thought  I :  had  I  but  half  the  invention  of  Dervish 
Sefer,  I  should  already  have  been  packing  up  my  things  in 
them.  A  thought  struck  me :  one  of  the  many  curs,  which 
range  wild  throughout  Tehran,  had  just  pupped  under  a  ruined 
archway,  close  to  our  house.  Unseen,  I  contrived  to  lodge  the 
whole  litter  within  one  of  the  trunks,  and  to  make  a  deposit  of  old 
bones  in  the  other.  When  they  came  to  be  moved,  prepara- 
tory to  the  doctor's  journey,  (for  he  always  accompanies  the 

■■■•  Strict  Mussulmans  liold  silk  unclean,     f  In  the  direction  of  Mecca. 


GETS    SOMK    INSIGHT    INTO    HIS    PROFESSION.  IGo 

Shall,)  the  puppies  and  their  mother  set  up  such  a  confusion  of 
yells,  that  the  servant  who  had  disturbed  them  ran  breathless 
with  the  information  to  the  doctor,  who,  followed  by  his  house- 
hold, including  myself,  proceeded  to  the  spot.  As  soon  as  the 
state  of  the  case  had  l^een  ascertained,  many  were  struck  by  the 
singularity  of  the  circumstance,  as  an  omen  portending  no  good 
to  the  doctor's  house.  One  said,  "  This  comes  of  marrying  the 
khanum  ;  she  will  give  him  a  houseful  of  haram  zadehs.''^* 
Another  said,  "  The  puppies  are  yet  blind  :  God  grant  that  we 
and  the  doctor  may  not  become  so  likewise  1"  The  doctor 
himself  was  only  vexed  by  the  loss  of  his  trunks ;  he  pro- 
nounced them  to  be  7iejes  (unclean)  from  that  moment,  and 
ordered  them,  puppies,  bitch  and  all,  inmiediately  to  be  ex- 
pelled. I  was  not  long  in  appropriating  them  ;  and  very  soon 
assumed  all  the  consequence  of  a  mail  possessing  trunks,  which 
also  implied  things  worthy  to  be  put  into  them.  Little  Viy 
little,  I  scraped  together  a  sufficient  quantity  of  eflTccts  to  Ije 
able  to  talk  big  about  my  baggage ;  and  when  preparations  for 
our  departure  were  making,  I  held  myself  entitled  to  the  privi- 
lege of  squabbling  with  the  king's  mule-drivers  concerning  the 
necessity  of  a  mule  for  carrying  it. 


CHAPTER  XXXIII. 

GETS    SOME    INSIGHT    INTO    HIS    PROFESSION. 

At  length  the  day  of  departure  for  Sultauieh  was  fixed  by 
the  astrologers.  The  Shah  left  his  palace  just  half  an  hour 
before  sunrise,  on  the  21st  Eebbi  el  evel,  and  traveled  without 
drawing  bridle,  until  he  reached  his  palace  of  Sulimanieh, 
which  is  situated  on  the  banks  of  the  Caraj,  at  a  distance  of 
nine  parasangs  from  Tehran.  The  different  corps  composing 
the  army  to  be  collected  at  Sultaneili  were  ordered  to  meet 
there  at  a  given  time,  whilst  the  Shah's  escort  was  to  consist 
only  of  his  body  guard,  his  camel  artillery,  and  a  heavy  squad- 
ron of  cavalry.  The  great  officers  of  the  court,  with  the  vi- 
ziers, and  those  employed  in  the  public  offices,  departed  at 
about  the  same  time,  and  thus  the  city  was  bereft,  almost  in  one 
day,  of  nearly  two-thirds  of  its  population.     Everything  and 

••■  Illo'rUimatu  burn. 


164  THE    ADVENTURES    OF    PIAJJI    BABA, 

everybody  were  in  motion  ;  and  a  stranger  would  have  tbonght 
tliat  all  the  inhabitants,  like  bees  hiving,  by  one  common  con- 
sent had  broken  up  housekeeping,  and  were  about  to  settle  in 
some  other  place.  Strings  of  mules  and  camels,  laden  with 
beds,  carpets,  cooking  utensils,  tents,  horse  furniture,  and  pro- 
visions of  all  sorts,  were  seen  making  their  way  through  each 
avenue,  raising  an  impenetrable  dust,  whilst  their  conductors 
mingled  their  cries  with  the  various  toned  bells  which  decked 
their  beasts. 

On  the  morning  of  departure,  I  was  stationed  at  the  Casbin 
gate  to  keep  order,  and  to  prevent  any  impediment  to  the 
Shah's  passage.  The  peasants  bringing  provisions  to  the  city, 
who  are  in  waiting  every  day  previously  to  opening  the  gates, 
were  ordered  to  take  another  direction.  The  road  was  watered 
by  all  the  sakas  of  the  town,  and  every  precaution  taken  to 
make  the  royal  exit  as  propitious  as  possible.  In  particular, 
no  old  woman  was  permitted  to  be  seen,  lest  the  Shah  might 
cast  a  look  upon  her,  and  thus  get  a  stroke  of  the  evil  eye. 

I  found  within  myself  an  energy  and  a  vigor  in  driving  the 
people  about,  that  I  never  thought  appertained  to  my  character  ; 
for  I  recollected  well,  when  one  of  the  mob,  how  entirely  I 
abominated  every  man  in  office.  I  made  use  of  my  stick  so 
freely  upon  the  heads  and  backs  of  the  crowd,  that  my  brother 
executioners  quite  stared,  and  wondered  what  demon  they  had 
got  amongst  them.  I  was  anxious  to  establish  a  reputation  for 
courage,  which  I  expected  would  in  time  promote  me  to  a 
higher  situation. 

At  length  the  procession  began  to  move  forwards.  A  de- 
tachment of  camel  artillery  had  proceeded  on  the  evening  before 
to  receive  the  Shah  when  he  should  alight  at  Sulimanieh ;  and 
now  was  heard  the  salute  which  announced  his  leaving  the 
palace  at  Tehran.  All  was  hushed  into  anxiety  and  expecta- 
tion. The  chief  executioner  himself,  mounted  upon  a  superb 
charger,  galloped  through  the  streets  in  haste ;  and  horsemen 
were  seen  running  to  and  fro,  all  intent  upon  the  one  object  of 
preparing  the  road.  First  came  the  heralds;  then  the  led 
horses,  magnificently  caparisoned  in  jewelry,  shawls,  and  cloth 
of  gold ;  after  them  the  running  footmen  ;  then  the  Shah  in 
person ;  the  princes  succeeded,  followed  by  the  viziers ;  and 
last  of  all  an  immense  body  of  cavalry. 

When  it  is  mentioned  that  every  man  of  any  consequence 
was  accompanied  by  his  train  of  attendants,  most  of  whom  had 
also  their  trains  ;  and  wiien  the  sum  total  of  mirzas,  of  servants, 
of  pipe-bearers,  of  cooks  and  scullions,  of  carpet  spreaders,  of 
running  footmen,  of  grooms  and  horses,  of  mule  drivers  and  camel 


GETS   SOME   INSIGHT   INTO    HIS   PROFESSION.  165 

drivers,  and  of  ten  thousand  other  camp  followers  is  reckoned 
up,  the  imagination  may  perhaps  conceive  what  was  the  crowd 
which  passed  before  me  in  succession,  as  I  stood  at  the  Casbin 
gate.  When  the  Shah  approached,  his  long  beard  floating  to 
his  girdle,  with  all  the  terrors  of  despotism  concentrated  in  his 
person,  I  could  not  help  feeling  an  odd  sort  of  sensation  aliout 
my  neck ;  and  I  made  my  lowest  prostration  to  that  power, 
which  by  a  single  nod  might  have  ordered  my  head  to  take 
leave  of  my  shoulders,  even  before  I  could  make  an  objection. 

The  whole  procession  having  cleared  the  city  gates,  I  lingered 
behind  to  smoke  a  water-pipe  with  the  guards  who  are  there 
stationed ;  and  at  that  time  the  women  of  one  of  the  viziers 
who  were  permitted,  to  accompany  him  to  camp  passing  by, 
brought  Zeenab  once  again  to  my  recollection.  I  sighed  pro- 
foundly, when  I  reflected  on  the  probable  miserable  fate  which 
awaited  her.  She  had  been  sent  (so  I  heard  from  Nur  Jehan 
the  day  before  our  departure)  to  a  small  summer-house  be- 
longing to  the  Shah,  situated  at  the  foot  of  the  high  mountains 
which  surround  Tehran,  where,  with  many  other  of  the  bazigers, 
she  was  to  receive  her  education  of  dancing,  music,  and  tum- 
bling. The  Shah  had  ordered  that  she  was  to  be  mistress  of 
these  accomplishments  previously  to  his  return  in  the  autumn  ; 
when  she  would  be  honored  by  the  permission  of  exhibiting  be- 
fore him.  As  I  rode  away,  I  could  not  help  turning  my  head 
towards  the  spot  where  she  was  now  confined,  and  which  I 
could  just  discern,  a  speck  at  the  foot  of  the  mountain.  Per- 
haps at  any  other  time  I  should  have  left  every  duty  to  en- 
deavor to  obtain  a  glimpse  of  her  ;  but  I  was  called  up  to  head 
the  procession  again,  and  to  be  in  readiness  at  Salimauieh  when 
the  king  should  alight  from  his  horse. 

The  day's  march,  and  the  attendance  at  my  post  being  at  an 
end,  I  proceeded  to  the  quarters  of  the  chief  executioner,  where 
I  found  a  small  tent  prepared  for  me  and  five  other  Nasakchis, 
who  were  destined  to  be  my  companions  for  the  remainder  of 
the  journey.  I  had  already  made  their  acquaintance  in  the 
city ;  but  now  we  were  brought  into  closer  contact,  for  our 
tent  was  not  more  than  six  fjliez"^  long  and  four  broad,  and  we 
were  thus  thrown  almost  one  upon  the  other.  I,  as  the  junior, 
fared  of  coui'se  the  worst ;  but  I  determined  to  put  the  best 
face  possible  upon  any  present  inconveniences,  anticipating 
many  future  advantages,  which  a  certain  confidence  in  my  own 
pretty  self  whispered  to  me  I  should  not  fail  to  secure. 

In  addition  to  the  chief  executioner's  naib,  there  was  also  a 

■■■■  A  gliez  is  not  quite  a  yard. 


166  THE    ADVENTURES    OF    IIAJJI    BABA. 

sub-lieutenant,  who  must  have  a  place  in  my  narrative,  because, 
in  fact,  it  was  through  him  that  I  ultimately  l)ecame  noticed  by 
the  higher  powers.  His  name  was  Shir  Ali,  in  rank  a  Beg, 
aiid  a  Shirazi  by  birth.  Although  natives  of  the  two  rival 
cities  of  Persia,  yet  without  any  particular  previous  cause,  and 
by  a  combination  of  those  nothings  which  give  rise  to  most 
friendships,  we  became  inseparable  companions.  He  had  given 
me  a  piece  of  water-melon  one  hot  day  when  I  was  thirsty;  I 
had  lighted  his  pipe  for  him  on  another  occasion  :  he  had  bled 
me  with  his  pcnkife  when  I  had  overloaded  my  stomach  with 
too  much  rice  ;  and  I  had  cured  his  horse  of  the  colic  by  ad- 
ministering an  injection  of  tobacco-water :  in  short,  one  thing 
led  on  to  another  until  we  became  hevidum,  of  one  breath,  and 
as  one  of  our  poets  has  said,  "  Until  the  date-tree  of  my  exist- 
ence had  been  grafted  into  the  date-tree  of  his,  and  produced 
fruit  common  to  both."  He  was  three  years  older  than  I,  tall, 
handsome,  broad-shouldered,  narrow-waisted,  with  the  prettiest 
oval  beard  possible,  just  long  enough  to  fringe  round  his  chin, 
and  with  two  large  curls,  twisting  beautifully  behind  his  ear, 
like  a  vine  curling  over  the  garden  wall. 

He  had  been  long  enough  in  the  service  to  acquire  all  the 
tricks  of  his  profession ;  for  when  we  came  to  converse  upon 
the  subject,  it  was  surprising  what  a  vast  field  for  the  exercise 
of  genius  he  threw  open  to  my  view. 

He  said,  "Do  not  suppose  that  the  salary  which  the  Shah 
gives  his  servants  is  a  matter  of  much  consideration  with  them : 
no,  the  value  of  their  places  depends  upon  the  range  of  extor- 
tion which  circumstances  may  afford,  and  upon  their  ingenuity 
in  taking  advantage  of  it.  As,  for  instance,  take  our  chief: 
his  salary  is  1000  tomauns  per  annum,  which  may  or  may  not 
be  regularly  paid ;  that  signifies  little  to  him.  He  spends  at 
least  five  or  six  times  that  sum ;  and  how  is  he  to  get  it,  if  it 
flows  not  from  the  contributions  of  those  who  come  under  his 
cognizance  ?  A  khan  has  incurred  the  Shah's  displeasure  ;  he 
is  to  be  beaten  and  fined :  the  chief  executioner  beats  and 
mulcts  in  the  inverse  proportion  of  the  present  which  the  suf- 
ferer makes  him.  A  rebel's  eyes  are  to  be  put  out ;  it  depends 
upon  what  he  receives,  whether  the  punishment  is  done  rudely 
with  a  dagger,  or  neatly  with  a  penknife.  He  is  sent  on  an 
expedition  at  the  head  of  an  army ;  wherever  he  goes  presents 
are  sent  him  from  the  towns  and  villages  on  his  road  to  induce 
him  not  to  quarter  his  troops  upon  them ;  and  he  uses  his  dis- 
cretion, according  to  the  value  of  what  he  receives,  in  choosing 
his  halting  stations.  Most  of  those  in  high  offices,  even  the 
viziers,  make  him  annual  gifts,  in  case  the  day  of  the  Shah's 


GETS    SOME    IXSIGHT    IXTO    HIS    PROFESSION.  167 

displeasure  should  come,  and  then  they  would  hope  to  be  dealt 
with  gently  by  him.  In  short,  wherever  a  stick  is  to  be  brand- 
ished, wherever  punishment  is  to  be  inflicted,  there  the  chief 
executioner  levies  his  dues ;  and  they  descend  in  a  gradual 
measure  from  him  to  the  lowest  of  his  officers.  Before  I  was  a 
naib,  and  when  I  was  called  upon  to  lay  the  bastinado  on  some 
wretched  culprit,  many  is  the  time  that  my  compassion  has 
been  moved  by  a  direct  appeal  to  my  purse  ;  and  then,  instead 
of  beating  the  sufferer's  feet,  I  struck  thcfekk  upon  which  they 
rested.  It  was  but  last  year  that  the  principal  secretary  of 
state  incurred  the  wrath  of  the  Shah.  He  was  ordered  to  re- 
ceive the  bastinado,  and,  by  way  of  distinction,  a  small  carpet 
was  spread  for  him  to  lie  upon  :  I  and  another  were  the  opera- 
tors, whilst  two  more  held  the  felek.  When  we  were  taking 
the  shawl  and  cap  from  his  head,  his  girdle  and  outer  coat, 
(which  became  our  lawful  perquisites,)  he  whispered  to  us,  low 
enough  not  to  be  heard  by  the  Shah,  (for  this  was  all  done  in 
his  presence,)  'By  the  mothers  that  bore  you,  do  not  beat  me 
much  !  I'll  give  you  each  ten  tomauns  if  you  will  not  strike  me.' 
His  heels  were  tripped  up,  his  feet  placed  in  the  noose,  whilst 
his  back  reposed  on  the  carpet ;  and  then  we  set  to  work.  For 
our  own  sakes,  we  were  obliged  to  start  fair,  and  we  laid  on 
until  he  roared  sufficiently ;  and  then,  having  ably  made  him 
increase  his  offer  until  he  had  bid  up  to  any  price  we  wished, 
we  gradually  ceased  beating  his  feet,  and  only  broke  our  sticks 
over  the  felek.  Much  ingenuity  was  displayed  on  both  sides, 
in  order  that  the  Shah  might  not  discover  that  there  was  any 
understanding  between  us.  His  bidding  was  interwoven  with 
his  groans,  something  after  this  manner: — 'AM  amanl  aman! 
For  pity's  sake,  by  the  soul  of  the  Prophet !  twelve  tomauns. 
By  the  love  of  your  fathers  and  mothers  !  fifteen  tomauns.  By 
the  king's  beard  !  twenty  tomauns.  By  all  the  Imams  !  by  all 
the  prophets !  thirty,  forty,  fifty,  sixty,  hundred,  thousand, — 
anything  you  want.'  When  it  was  over,  we  soon  found  that  his 
generosity  had  diminished  quite  as  rapidly  as  it  had  before  in- 
creased, and  we  were  satisfied  to  receive  what  he  first  offered  to 
us,  which  he  was  obliged  to  give,  fearing  if  a  similar  misfor- 
tune again  overtook  him,  we  should  then  show  him  no  mercy." 
Shir  Ali,  holding  this  sort  of  language,  gave  me  such  an  in- 
sight into  the  advantages  of  my  situation,  that  I  could  dream 
of  nothing  but  bastinadoing,  and  getting  money.  I  went  about 
all  day  flourishing  a  stick  over  my  head,  practising  upon  any 
object  that  had  the  least  resemblance  to  human  feet,  and  to 
such  perfection  did  I  bring  my  hand,  that  I  vci'ily  believe  I 
could  have  hit  each  toe  separately,  had  I  been  so  ordered 


168  THE  ADVENTUEES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

The  first  impulse  of  my  nature  was  not  cruelty,  that  I  knew :  I 
was  neither  fierce  nor  brave,  that  I  also  knew :  I  therefore  mar- 
veled greatly  how  of  a  sudden  I  had  become  such  an  unsainted 
lion.*  The  fact  is,  the  example  of  others  always  had  the 
strongest  influence  over  my  mind  and  actions  ;  and  I  now  lived 
in  such  an  atmosphere  of  violence  and  cruelty,  I  heard  of 
nothing  but  of  slitting  noses,  cutting  off  ears,  putting  out  eyes, 
blowing  up  in  mortars,  chopping  men  in  two,  and  baking  them 
in  ovens,  that,  in  truth,  I  am  persuaded,  with  a  proper  example 
before  me,  I  could  almost  have  impaled  my  own  father. 


CHAPTER  XXXIV. 

A    SPECIMEN 'of    PERSIAN    DESPOTISM. 

The  Shah  moved  slowly  towards  Sultanieh,  and  at  length, 
after  fourteen  days'  march,  when  a  fortunate  hour  had  been 
selected  for  his  arrival,  he  took  possession  of  the  summer  palace, 
which  has  of  late  days  been  erected  there  for  his  residence. 
Situated  on  a  hill,  not  far  from  the  remains  of  the  ancient  city, 
it  commands  a  view  of  the  whole  plain,  which  now,  to  an  im- 
mense extent,  was  covered  with  the  white  tents  of  the  camp. 
It  was  a  magnificent  sight,  and  I  felt  all  the  importance  of  the 
Nasakchi  rising  in  my  breast,  as  I  contrasted  my  present  situa- 
tion with  my  wretched  and  forlorn  condition  when  an  inmate  in 
the  tents  of  the  Turcomans.  "In  short,  I  am  somebody  now," 
said  I  to  myself:  "  formerly  I  Avas  one  of  the  beaten,  now  I  am 
one  of  the  beaters.  I  should  just  do  for  an  example  of  the 
active  and  passive  participle,  with  which  my  old  master,  the 
mollah  at  Ispahan,  used  to  puzzle  me,  when  endeavoring  to 
instil  a  little  Arabic  into  my  mind.  Please  heaven  that  my 
good  dispositions  towards  my  fellow-creatures  may  soon  have 
an  opportunity  of  being  displayed." 

Scarcely  had  I  made  these  reflections,  when  Shir  Ali  came 
up  to  me,  and  said,  "Our  fortune  has  taken  a  flight  upwards  : 
you  are  to  accompany  me,  and  lashaUah !  please  Allah !  we 
sliall  make  clean  work  of  it.  You  must  know,  that  the  pro- 
visions for  the  king's  camp  are  supplied,  in  great  measure,  by 

*  Shir  hi  pir — a  liou  without  a  saiut,  is  a  favorite  Persian  epithet,  when 
applied  to  a  desperado,  a  fellow  without  compassion. 


A    SPECIMEN    OF    PERSIAN    DESPOTISM.  169 

the  surrounding  villages.  It  seems  that  the  village  of  Kadj 
Sawar,  situated  between  this  and  Hamadan,  has  not  sent  its 
quota,  upon  a  pretext  that  one  of  the  princes,  with  his  suite, 
not  long  ago,  on  a  hunting  excursion,  had  there  settled  himself 
for  several  daj^s,  and  eaten  the  inhabitants  out  of  house  and 
home.  I  am  ordered  to  proceed  thither,  to  investigate  the 
business,  and  to  conduct  the  hed  khoda,  (the  head  man,)  with 
the  elders  of  the  village,  before  our  chief.  Since  you  are  my 
friend,  I  have  received  permission  to  take  you  with  me,  although 
the  other  Nasakchis  complain  that  they  have  lost  their  turn. 
You  must  be  ready  to  join  me  after  the  evening  prayer,  for  I 
intend  to  be  there  to-morrow  morning." 

I  was  overjoyed  to  find  myself  so  soon  brought  into  action ; 
and,  although  I  did  not  know  precisely  the  plan  of  operations 
which  Shir  Ali  would  adopt,  yet  I  had  wit  enough  to  perceive 
that  a  great  field  was  open  to  the  ingenuity  of  fellows  like  us, 
who  are  always  guided  by  the*  state  of  the  weather.  "  Our 
star  will  be  an  evil  one,  indeed,"  said  I,  "if  that  destructive 
prince  has  left  us  nothing  to  glean.  Some  poet  once  said 
'  no  melon  is  so  bad  but  liath  its  rind,  and  although  a  tyrant 
may  pluck  out  a  beard  by  the  roots,  yet  still  the  chin  is  left 
upon  which  it  grew.'"  With  these  thoughts  in  my  head  I 
went  to  my  horse,  which,  with  the  other  Nasakchi's  horses,  was 
picketed  near  our  tent,  and  prepared  him  for  the  journey. 
Casting  off  his  head  and  heel  ropes,  I  could  not  help  comparing 
him  to  myself.  "Now,"  said  I,  "beast!  you  are  free  to  kick, 
plunge,  and  do  what  mischief  you  can  ;"  and  so,  thought  I,  is 
the  Persian  when  absolved  from  the  fear  of  his  master. 

Shir  Ali  and  I  quitted  the  camp  at  sunset,  accompanied  by  a 
lad,  seated  on  the  top  of  a  loaded  mule,  that  carried  our  beds ; 
and  the  coverings,  ropes,  &c.,  for  our  horses.  Since  I  had  be- 
come a  soldier,  I  also  had  attached  the  title  of  Beg  to  my  name  ; 
and,  to  add  to  my  importance  in  this  expedition,  I  borrowed  a 
silver  chain  for  my  horse's  head,  and  a  handsome  silver  mounted 
pistol  for  my  girdle,  from  one  of  my  comrades,  and  promised 
to  bring  him  a  soghat,  or  present,  in  case  the  harvest  proved 
abundant. 

We  traveled  all  night,  and,  having  slept  for  two  hours  at  a 
village  on  the  road,  reached  Kadj  Sawar  just  as  the  women 
were  driving  the  cattle  from  their  stables,  and  the  men  smoking 
their  water-pipes,  previously  to  going  to  their  work  in  the  field. 
As  soon  as  we  were  perceived  making  for  the  village,  it  was 


*  The  expression  is  '' hawahcen,"  which  answers  to  our  '•time-servers,"  but 
which  literally  signifies  what  has  been  giveu  in  the  text. 

15 


ItO  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

evident  that  a  great  stir  was  produced.  Tlie  women  ceased 
from  their  cries,  and  hid  their  faces,  and  the  men  arose  from 
their  seats.  I  wish  my  reader  could  ha,ve  seen  the  air  and 
countenance  which  Shir  Ali  Beg  put  on  as  we  approached. 
He  swelled  himself  out  at  least  into  the  size  of  the  chief  execu- 
tioner himself,  and  with  a  tone  of  authority,  which  sufficiently 
indicated  who  and  what  he  was,  inquired  for  the  chief  of  the 
village.  A  plain  man,  with  a  gray  beard,  humble  mien,  and 
still  humbler  clothing,  stepped  forward,  and  said,  "Peace  be 
with  you,  Aga  1  I  am  he  ;  I  am  your  servant.  May  your  foot- 
steps be  fortunate,  and  your  shadow  never  be  less  !"  And  then 
saying  "  Bismillah  .'^^  in  the  name  of  God  !  we  were  helped  off 
our  horses  with  all  due  respect.  One  held  the  horse's  head, 
another  the  stirrup,  whilst  a  third  put  his  hand  under  the  arm- 
pit, and  thus  we  alighted,  giving  ourselves  as  much  weight  as 
we  could,  and  making  up  our  backs  like  men  of  consequence. 
A  small  carpet  was  spread  at  the  door  of  the..ked  khoda's 
house,  to  which  we  had  been  conducted,  followed  by  almost  all 
the  male  population  of  the  village,  and  there  we  seated  our- 
selves until  a  room  within  was  prepared.  The  ked  khoda  him- 
self pulled  off  our  boots,  and  otherwise  performed  all  the  acts 
of  politeness  and  attention  which  are  shown  to  guests  on  their 
arrival.  Shir  Ali  having  received  this  with  the  dignity  of  one 
who  thought  it  his  due,  and  haviug  let  off  several  long  whifl's 
from  his  pipe,  said,  with  great  emphasis,  to  our  host,  "You, 
that  arc  the  ked  khoda  of  Kadj  Sawar,  know,  that  I  am  come 
on  the  part  of  the  Shah, — on  the  part  of  the  Shah,  again  I  say, — 
that  I  am  come  to  know  why  this  village  has  not  sent  its  quota 
of  provisions  for  the  use  of  the  roj'al  camp  at  Sultanieh,  ac- 
cording to  the  order  issued  in  the  firman  two  months  ago, 
signified  to  you  by  the  governor  of  Hamadan  ?  Give  me  an 
answer,  and  make  your  face  white  if  you  can." 

The  ked  khoda  answered,  "Yes,  by  my  eyes  1  what  I  have 
said  before  I  will  say  now.  All  these  men  present  (pointing  to 
his  fellow  villagers)  know  it  to  be  the  truth ;  and  if  I  lie,  may 
I  become  stone  blind !  Arz  mi  kunujn,  I  beg  leave  to  state,  O 
Nasakchi  1  that  you,  by  the  blessing  of  God,  you,  in  fine,  are  a 
man, — you  are  a  wise,  a  clever,  and  a  sharp-sighted  man, — 
you  are  also  a  Mussulman,  and  you  fear  God.  I  shall  not  say 
more  than  the  truth,  nor  less ;  I  shall  explain  what  has  hap- 
pened, and  then  leave  you  to  decide." 

"Well,  well,  say  on,"  said  Shir  Ali;  "I  am  the  king's  ser- 
vant :  whatever  the  Shah  will  decide,  that  you  must  look  to." 

"  You  are  the  master,"  replied  the  keel  khoda;  "  but  pray 
give  ear  to  my  tale.     About  three  months  ago,  when  the  wheat 


A    SPECIMEN    OF    PERSIAN    DESPOTISM.  Hi 

was  about  a  ghez  high,  and  lambs  were  bleating  all  over  the 
conutry,  a  servant  belonging  to  the  Prince  Kharab  Culi  Mirza 
announced  to  us,  that  his  master  would  take  up  his  quarters  in 
the  village  the  next  day,  in  order  to  hunt  in  the  surrounding 
country,  which  abounds  in  antelopes,  wild  asses,  partridges, 
bustards,  and  game  of  all  descriptions.  He  ordered  the  best 
houses  to  be  in  readiness  for  him  and  his  suite,  turned  out  their 
inhabitants,  and  made  demands  for  provisions  of  all  sorts.  As 
soon  as  this  intelligence  was  known,  alarm  was  spread  through- 
out the  village,  and  seeing  that  nothing  was  to  be  done  with 
the  Prince's  servant,  either  by  bribe  or  persuasion,  to  evade  the 
disaster,  we  determined  to  abandon  our  houses  and  take  to  Ihc 
mountains  until  the  evil  day  had  gone  by.  Had  you  seen  the 
state  of  these  poor  peasants,  when  forced  to  abandon  every- 
thing they  had  in  the  world,  your  heart  would  have  turned  up- 
side down,  and  your  liver  would  have  become  water." 

"What  do  you  mean?"  exclaimed  Shir  Ali ;  "the  Shnh's 
villages  are  left  desolate,  and  I  am  to  pity  the  fugitives  ?  Xo, 
they  would  have  all  been  put  to  death  had  the  Shah  known 
of  it." 

"For  pity  sake,"  continued  the  old  villager,  "hear  the  end 
of  my  story,  and  allow  yourself  to  be  softened.  We  loaded  our 
cattle  at  nightfall  with  everything  we  could  carry  away,  and 
took  to  the  mountains,  whei'e  we  settled  in  a  dell,  close  to  a 
stream  of  running  water.  There  only  remained  behind  three 
sick  old  women  and  the  village  cats." 

"Do  you  hear  that,  Hajji?"  said  my  companion,  addressing 
himself  to  me;  "  they  carried  away  everything  valuable,  and 
left  the  bare  walls,  and  their  old  women  to  the  Prince.  Well," 
said  he  to  the  ked  khoda,  "  proceed." 

"We  sent  spies  from  time  to  time,"  continued  the  old  man, 
"to  bring  intelligence  of  what  was  doing,  and  took  up  our 
abode  among  the  rocks  and  cliffs  of  the  mountains.  About 
noon  the  next  day  the  party  appeared,  and  when  they  dis- 
covered that  we  had  fled,  their  rage  and  disappointment  were 
great.  The  servants  of  the  Prince  went  from  house  to  house, 
and  drove  in  the  doors  with  violence.  The  only  object  which 
at  all  restrained  them  was  one  of  the  old  women,  who  having 
acquired  sufficient  strength  to  rise  from  her  bed,  attacked  them 
with  such  reproaches,  that  none  was  bold  enough  to  face  her. 
The  Prince  sent  for  provisions  from  a  neighboring  town,  and 
took  up  his  abode  in  my  house.  Wherever  they  found  corn, 
they  seized  upon  it ;  they  burnt  our  implements  of  husbandry 
for  firewood,  and  when  they  were  expended  had  recourse  to 
doors  and  windows,  and  even  to  the  beams  and  rafters  of  our 


1'I2  THE  ADVENTURF.S  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

houses.  Their  horses  were  picketed  in  the  new  wheat,  and 
they  even  cut  down  a  great  extent  of  it  to  carry  away.  In 
short,  we  are  entirely  ruined  ;  wc  have  neither  money,  clothes, 
cattle,  houses,  nor  provisions  ;  and,  except  in  God  and  you," 
addressing  himself  to  Shir  All  and  me,  "  we  have  no  other  re- 
fuge." 

Upon  this,  Shir  Ali  Beg  jumped  up  from  his  scat,  took  the  old 
man  vigorously  by  the  beard,  and  said,  "  Are  not  you  ashamed, 
old  man,  with  these  gray  hairs,  to  utter  such  lies  ?  But  a  mo- 
ment ago  you  told  us  that  you  had  carried  into  the  mountains  all 
that  was  most  valuable,  and  now  pretend  that  you  are  ruined. 
This  can  never  be  !  We  have  not  traveled  all  this  way  to  eat  your 
dirt.  If  you  think  that  we  have  brought  our  beards  to  market 
to  be  laughed  at,  you  are  mistaken.  You  don't  yet  know  Shir 
Ali :  we  are  men  who  sleep  with  one  eye  open  and  the  other 
shut;  no  fox  steals  from  its  hole  without  our  knowledge:  if 
you  think  yourself  a  cat,  we  are  the  fathers  of  cats.  Your  beard 
must  be  a  great  deal  longer,  you  must  have  seen  much  more 
country,  before  you  can  expect  to  take  us  in." 

"No,  God  forgive  me!"  said  the  ked  khoda,  "if  I  have 
thought  to  deceive  you.  Who  am  I,  that  should  dare  to  think 
so  ?  We  are  the  Shah's  rayats,  peasantry ;  whatever  we  have 
is  his ;  but  we  have  been  stripped,  we  have  been  skinned  ;  go 
see  with  your  own  eyes — look  at  our  fields — look  into  our 
store-rooms — we  have  neither  corn  abroad  nor  corn  at  home." 

"  Well,"  said  Shir  Ali,  "skinned  or  unskinned,  with  corn  or 
without  it,  we  have  only  one  course  to  pursue,  and  one  word  to 
say — the  Shah's  orders  must  be  executed.  Either  you  deliver 
in  kind  or  in  money,  your  prescribed  quota  of  provisions,  or 
you  and  your  elders  must  proceed  with  us  to  Sultanieh,  where 
you  will  be  consigned  over  to  the  proper  authorities." 

After  these  words,  much  whispering  and  consulation  took 
place  between  the  ked  khoda  and  the  village  elders,  who  hav- 
ing huddled  themselves  into  a  corner,  left  us  wrapt  up  in  our 
own  dignity,  smoking  our  water  pipes,  with  apparently  the 
greatest  indiflcrence. 

At  length  the  result  of  their  conference  was  made  known, 
and  they  changed  their  order  of  attack  ;  for  the  chief  of  the 
village  now  undertook  to  soften  me,  and  another  old  man  Shir 
Ali  Beg.  The  former  approached  me  with  every  manifestation 
of  great  friendship,  and  began,  as  usual,  by  flattery.  Accord- 
ing to  him,  I  was  the  most  perfect  of  God's  creatures.  He 
then  swore  that  I  had  excited  feelings  of  love  both  in  his 
breast,  and  in  that  of  all  the  villagers,  and  that  I  alone  was  the 
person  to  extricate  them  from  their  difficulties.     As  long  as 


A    SPECIMEN'    OF    PERSIAN    DESPOTISM.  113 

this  lasted,  I  merely  kept  a  steady  countenance,  and  made  play 
with  my  pipe ;  but  when  he  had  a  little  more  entered  into  par- 
ticulars, and  talked  of  what  we  were  likely  to  get,  I  must  own. 
that  I  became  considerably  more  interested.  He  said  that  they 
had  consulted  upon  what  was  to  be  done  ;  and  were  unanimous, 
that  to  send  what  they  had  not  was  impossible,  and  therefore 
out  of  the  question  ;  but  if  something-  could  be  offered  to  us 
to  protect  their  interests,  they  were  ready  to  satisfy  us  on  that 
head. 

"  All  this  is  is  very  well,"  said  I,  "but  I  am  not  the  only 
person  to  be  considered.  We  here  are  only  two,  but  recollect 
that  our  chief  must  be  also  satisfied,  and  if  you  do  not  begin 
by  him,  your  labor  and  expense  will  be  in  vain  ;  and  I  can  tell 
you,  if  you  grease  his  palm,  you  must  measure  your  rogliun 
(grease)  by  the  tiiaim*  and  not  by  the  iniscal.'" 

"  Whatever  we  possess,"  said  the  ked  khoda,  "  we  will  give  ; 
but  of  late  taxation  has  been  so  heavy,  that  excepting  our 
wives  and  children,  we  have  in  fact  nothing  to  offer." 

"I  tell  you  what,  friend,"  said  T,  "unless  you  have  money, 
ready  downright  cash,  to  give,  any  other  offer  is  useless  ;  with 
money  in  your  hand,  you  may  buy  the  Shah's  crown  from  his 
head ;  but  without  it,  I  can  only  promise  you  a  harvest  of 
bastinadoes." 

"  Ah  !"  said  the  ked  khoda,  "  money,  money  !  where  are  we 
to  procure  money  ?  Our  women,  when  they  get  a  piece,  bore  a 
hole  through  it,  and  hang  it  about  their  necks  by  way  of  orna- 
ment :  and  if  we,  after  a  life  of  hard  toil,  can  scrape  up  some 
fifty  tomauns,  we  bury  them  in  the  earth,  and  they  give  us 
more  anxiety  than  if  we  possessed  the  mountain"]"  of  light." 
Then  approaching  to  put  his  mouth  to  my  ear,  he  whispered 
with  great  earnestness,  "You  are  a  Mussulman  in  fine,  and  no 
ass.  You  do  not  conceive  that  we  will  go  into  the  lion's  mouth 
if  it  can  be  avoided  ;  tell  me,  (pointing  to  my  companion,)  how 
much  will  he  be  contented  with  ?  can  I  offer  him  five  tomauns, 
and  a  pair  of  crimson  s/talwars  (trowsers)  ?" 

"  What  do  I  know,"  said  I,  "  what  will  satisfy  him  ?  all  I  can 
say  is,  that  he  possesses  not  a  grain  of  commiseration :  make 
the  tomauns  ten,  and  the  trowsers  a  coat,  and  I  will  endeavor 
to  make  him  accept  them." 

"  Oh,  that  is  too  much,"  said  the  old  man  ;  "  our  whole  vil- 
lage is  not  worth  that  sum.     Satisfy  him  with  the  five  and  the 


*"  A  maun  is  seven  pounds  and  a  half;  a  miscal  twenty-four  gniins. 
I  The  Shah's  great  diamond,  which  he  wears  in  one  of  his  armlets,  is  called 
the  /.-(ih  nur  or  the  mountain  of  light. 

15* 


174  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  EABA. 

trowsers,  and  our  gratitude  will  be  shown,  by  a  present  for 
yourself  that  will  astonish  you." 

Upon  this  our  conference  broke  off,  and  I  was  as  anxious  to 
hear  what  had  taken  up  my  companion  as  he  was  impatient  to 
learn  the  result  of  my  whisperings  with  the  ked  khoda.  Com- 
paring notes,  we  found  that  both  of  the  old  villagers  had  been 
endeavoring  to  ascertain  what  might  be  our  respective  prices. 
I  assured  Shir  Ali,  that  I  had  given  him  out  for  the  veriest 
crucible  in  Persia,  saying,  that  he  could  digest  more  gold 
than  an  ostrich  could  iron,  and  was  withal  so  proud,  that  he 
rejected  units  as  totally  unworthy  of  notice,  and  never  took  less 
than  tens. 

"  Well  said,"  answered  Shir  Ali;  "and  I  told  my  old  nego- 
tiator, that  unless  you  w^ere  handsomely  paid,  you  were  equal 
to  any  violence,  notwithstanding  your  silence  and  quiet  looks." 

At  length,  after  some  delay,  the  whole  party  came  forward 
again,  headed  by  the  ked  khoda,  who,  bringing  an  ostensible 
present  of  apples,  pears,  a  pot  of  honey,  and  some  new  cheese, 
begged  my  companions  to  accept  it,  in  terms  usually  made  on 
such  occasions.  When  it  had  been  spread  before  us,  in  an 
under  tone  of  voice  the  ked  khoda  made  his  offer  of  five 
tomauns  and  the  trowsers,  and  talked  of  his  misery  and  that  of 
his  village  in  a  manner  which  would  have  melted  any  breast  but 
that  of  Shir  Ali. 

We  agreed  at  once  to  reject  the  present,  and  ordered  it  to 
be  taken  from  before  us.  This  produced  considerable  dismay 
among  the  poor  people,  and  they  walked  off  with  their  trays  of 
fruits,  &c.,  on  their  heads,  and  slow  and  sorrowful  steps. 

In  about  half  an  hour  they  appeared  again,  the  ked  khoda 
having  previously  ascertained  that  if  he  came  with  the  ten 
tomauns  and  a  coat,  the  present  would  be  accepted.  When 
we  had  eaten  thereof,  Sliir  Ali  Beg  having  pocketed  his 
gold  and  secured  his  coat,  I  began  to  look  for  that  something 
for  myself  which  was  to  astonish  me  :  nothing,  however,  was 
])roduced,  notwithstanding  certain  significant  winks  and  blinks 
with  which  the  ked  knoda  ever  and  anon  kept  me  in  play. 

"  Where  is  it  ?"  said  I  to  him  at  last,  quite  out  of  patience. 
"  What  is  it  ?  how  much  ?" 

"Itis  coming,"  said  he;  "have  a  little  patience;  it  is  noi 
yet  quite  prepared." 

At  length,  after  some  waiting,  with  great  parade,  the  pair  of 
trowsers,  which  had  been  rejected  by  Shir  Ali,  were  placed  be- 
fore me  on  a  tray,  and  o2"ered  for  my  acceptance,  accompanied 
by  a  profusion  of  fine  words. 

"  What  news  is  this?"  exclaimed  I :  "do  yon  know,  ye  men 


FORTUNE    SMILES — PROMOTED.  175 

without  shame  !"  addressing  myself  to  those  who  stood  before  me, 
"  that  I  am  an  executioner — one  who  can  burn  your  fathers, 
and  can  give  you  more  grief  to  devour  than  you  have  ever  yet 
experienced  ?  "What  mean  ye  by  bringing  me  this  pair  of 
frouzy  shalwars'?  That  which  has  passed  through  many  gene- 
rations of  your  ignoble  ancestors,  do  ye  now  pretend  to  put 
off  upon  me  ?  Fools  indeed  you  must  be,  to  suppose  that  I 
will  espouse  your  interests,  and  set  forth  your  grievances,  merely 
for  the  sake  of  this  dirty  rag !  Away  with  it,  or  you  will  see 
what  a  Nasakchi  can  do  !" 

Upon  this,  they  were  about  complying  with  my  orders,  when 
Shir  Ali  Beg  stopped  them  and  said,  "  Let  me  look  at  the 
trowsers.  Ah,"  said  he,  holding  them  up  at  the  same  time  be- 
tween his  eyes  and  the  sun,  and  examining  them  with  all  the  care 
of  an  old  clothes'  broker,  "  they  will  do  ;  they  have  no  defect ; 
be  it  so,  they  are  my  property,  and  many  thanks  for  them.  May 
your  family  prosper !" 

Every  one  looked  astonished  ;  no  one  dared  make  an  objec- 
tion ;  and  thus  I,  who  had  been  anticipating  such  great  advan- 
tages, lost  even  the  miserable  perquisite  which  I  might  have 
had,  and  only  gained  sufficient  experience  to  know  another 
time  how  to  deal  with  my  countrymen,  and,  moreover,  how  to 
trust  one  who  called  himself  my  friend. 


CHAPTER  XXXV. 

FORTUNE    SMILES PROMOTED. 

Two  fat  lambs,  which  were  tied  on  cur  baggage  mule,  were 
the  only  present  we  brought  with  us  for  our  chief.  As  soon  as 
we  reached  the  camp,  we  immediately  presented  ourselves  to 
the  Naib,  who  forthwith  carried  us  before  the  executioner,  who 
was  seated  in  his  tent,  in  conversation  with  one  or  two  of  his 
friends. 

"  Well,"  said  he  to  Shir  Ali,  "  what  have  you  done  ?  Have 
you  brought  the  corn,  or  the  ked  khoda,  which  ?" 

"I  beg  leave  to  state  for  your  service,"  said  Shir  Ali, 
"neither.  The  ked  khoda  and  the  elders  of  Kadj  Sawar  have 
sent  two  lambs  to  be  laid  at  your  feet ;  and  they  have  convinced 
us  with  our  own  eyes,  that  excepting  them,  not  a  thing  have 
Ihey  left,  not  even  their  own  souls,  so  entirely  and  completely 


n6  THE  ADVEXTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

have  they  been  pillaged  :  on  the  contrary,  if  food  be  not  sent 
to  them,  they  will  eat  up  one  another." 

"Do  you  say  so,  indeed!"  exclaimed  the  khan;  "if  they 
have  lambs  they  must  also  have  sheep.  By  what  account  do 
you  reckon  ?" 

"That's  true,"  said  Shir  Ali ;  "and  everything  that  you 
say  is  equally  so  ;  but  we  were  talking  of  corn,  and  not  of 
sheep." 

"  But  why  did  not  you  follow  your  orders,  and  bring  the  ked 
khoda  and  the  elders  ?"  said  our  chief.  "  If  I  had  been  there, 
the  rogues,  I  would  have  roasted  them  alive.  I  would  have  tied 
them  with  the  camel  tie,  until  they  confessed  that  they  had  some- 
thing.    Tell  me,  why  did  you  not  bring  them  ?" 

"  We  wished  much  to  bring  them,"  said  Shir  Ali,  looking  at 
me  to  help  him  out.  "  Yes,  we  had  bound  them  all  together,  and 
we  wanted  very  much  to  bring  them  :  we  also  beat  and  abused 
them.  Hajji  Baba  knows  it  all ;  for  Ilajji  Baba  told  them  if  they 
had  not  money  to  give,  that  they  would  certainly  meet  with  no 
mercy.  Mercy  was  a  thing  totally  out  of  our  way  ;  for  if  they 
knew  anything,  they  must  be  aware  that  our  khan,  our  lord  and 
master,  the  Nasakchi  Bashi,  was  a  man  of  such  invincible  cou- 
rage, of  a  resolution  so  great,  and  of  bowels  so  immovable,  that 
if  once  they  got  within  his  grasp,  it  was  all  over  with  them. 
Yes,  we  told  them  all  that,  and  they  almost  sunk  into  the 
earth." 

"What  does  he  say,  Hajji  Baba?"  said  the  khan,  turning 
round  to  me  ;  "  I  have  not  quite  understood  why  these  men 
were  not  brought  to  me  ?" 

I  answered  in  great  humility,  "Indeed,  O  khan,  I  also  do 
not  understand.  Shir  Ali  Beg,  who  is  your  sub-lieutenant,  had 
the  w^hole  business  in  his  hands.  I  went  in  his  service ;  I  am 
nobody." 

Upon  this  the  khan  got  into  a  violent  rage,  and  branded  us 
by  every  odious  name  of  contempt  and  reproach  that  he  could 
think  of.  "  It  is  plain,"  said  he  to  his  friends,  "  that  these  vil- 
lains have  been  playing  tricks.  Tell  me,"  said  he  to  Shir  Ali, 
"by  my  soul,  by  the  king's  salt,  tell  me,  how  much  have  you 
got  for  yourself  ?  And  you,"  Aga  Hajji,  addressing  himself 
to  me,  "  you,  who  have  scarcely  been  a  month  in  service,  how 
much  have  you  secured  ?" 

In  vain  we  both  protested  our  innocence  ;  in  vain  we  swore 
that  there  was  nothing  to  gain  ;  nobody  would  believe  us  ;  and 
the  scene  ended  by  our  being  driven  out  of  the  tent  in  cus- 
tody of  the  naib,  who  was  ordered  to  confine  us  until  the  chiefs 


FORTUNE    SMILES PROMOTED.  177 

of  the  village  should  have  been  actually  brought  to  the  camp, 
and  confronted  with  us. 

When  Shir  Ali  and  I  were  left  to  ourselves,  he  immediately- 
endeavored  to  make  me  a  partaker  of  the  spoil,  and  offered  to 
give  me  up  half  of  it. 

"  Not  so,  my  friend,"  said  I ;  "it  is  now  too  late.  If  you 
have  drank  and  enjoyed  the  forbidden  wine,  and  have  got  a 
headache  by  it,  it  is  no  reason  that  you  should  endeavor  to 
make  me  sick  too.  I  have  had  a  lesson,  in  which  yon  have 
acted  as  master,  which  will  satisfy  me  for  this  time." 

He  then  endearored  to  make  me  promise  to  stand  by  him, 
when  we  should  be  confronted  with  the  ked  khoda,  and  to  swear 
through  thick  and  thin  to  everything  that  he  intended  to  ad- 
vance ;  but  I  was  too  much  alive  to  the  consequences  to  make 
any  such  promise.  He  said  that  if  once  he  were  brought  to  the 
felek  to  receive  the  bastinado,  he  knew  that  he  could  not  sur- 
vive it ;  for  so  universal  a  terrorist  had  he  been  when  operating 
upon  the  feet  of  others,  that  now  he  felt  he  should  be  treated 
without  the  least  mercy ;  and  he,  therefore,  swore  upon  the 
Koran,  that  he  would  undergo  every  misery  rather  than  be  tied 
to  the  stake. 

When  the  time  came  for  being  called  up  again  before  onr 
chief,  Shir  Ali  was  nowhere  to  be  found.  He  had  absconded, 
and  when  I  was  interrogated,  all  that  I  could  say  amounted  to 
this, — that  I  knew  he  dreaded  the  idea  of  being  bastinadoed, 
and  that  I  supposed  he  had  made  off  to  escape  it. 

As  soon  as  I  appeared  before  my  judge,  the  men  of  Kadj 
Sawar,  who  were  already  standing  before  him,  declared  one  and 
all,  that  I  had  neither  exacted  nor  received  anything  from 
them  :  but,  on  the  contrary,  that  I  had  urged  them  to  make  a 
considerable  present  to  the  khan.  They  poured  out  the  whole 
of  their  complaints  against  Shir  Ali,  who,  they  declared,  had 
put  the  finishing  stroke  to  their  misery,  and  had  even  torn  off 
the  new  skin  that  had  begun  to  cover  their  old  wounds. 

All  this  was  slowly  working  for  my  advantage,  and  paving 
the  road  for  my  promotion.  The  story  had  got  abroad,  and 
was  in  every  one's  mouth.  I  was  looked  upon  as  a  paragon  of 
moderation. 

"This  comes  from  having  been  a  doctor,"  says  one;  "wis- 
dom is  better  than  riches."  "  He  knows  the  doctrine  of  conse- 
quences," says  another;  "his  feet  will  never  be  where  his  head 
should  be."  In  short,  I  had  acquired  the  .reputation  of  being 
a  clever  and  a  cautious  fellow,  merely  owing  to  events  playing 
fortunately  into  my  hands ;   and  I   lost   nothing  from   being 


1*18  THE    ADVENTURES    OF    HA.TJI    BABA. 

looked  upon  as  a  man  whose  takli   (lack)  was  good,  and  one 
whose  star  was  fortunate. 

The  result  of  this  part  of  my  history  was,  that  I  wasinstalled 
in  the  situation  of  the  fugitive,  and  became  the  sub-lieutenant 
to  the  chief  executioner  of  Persia— a  character,  whatever  my 
readers  may  think  of  it,  of  no  small  consequence,  as  they  will 
hereafter  discover. 


CHAPTEK  XXXVI. 

A    YOUNG    COUPLE    IN    DISTRESS. 

The  Shah  was  at  this  time  engaged  in  a  war  with  the  Musco- 
vites,  who  had  established  themselves  in  Georgia,  and  were 
threatening  the  frontier  provinces  of  Persia  situated  betv/een  the 
rivers  Kur  and  Arras.  The  governor  of  Erivan,  known  by  the 
title  of  Serdar  or  general,  and  one  of  the  Shah's  most  favorite 
officers,  had  long  ago  opened  the  campaign  by  desultory  attacks 
upon  the  advanced  posts  of  the  enemy,  and  by  laying  waste  the 
villages  and  country  in  the  track  they  were  likely  to  keep  in  ad- 
vancing towards  Persia.  An  army,  under  the  command  of  the 
heir  apparent  and  governor  of  the  great  province  of  Aderbijan, 
had  also  been  collected  near  Tabriz  ;  and  it  was  intended  that 
he  should  immediately  proceed  to  the  seat  of  war,  in  order  if 
possible  to  drive  the  enemy  back  to  Teflis,  and  according  to 
the  language  of  the  court,  carry  its  arms  even  to  the  walls  of 
Moscow. 

Intelligence  was  daily  expected  at  the  royal  camp  of  Sulta- 
nieh,  from  the  Serdar,  concerning  an  attack  which  he  had  an- 
nounced it  his  intention  to  make  upon  the  Russian  post  of  Gav- 
mishlu  ;  and  orders  were  issued  for  giving  a  suitable  reception 
to  the  heads  of  the  enemy,  which  it  is  always  the  etiquette  to 
send  upon  announcing  a  victory,  for  such  no  doubt  was  ex- 
pected to  be  the  result  of  the  attack.  A  chopper,  or  courier, 
was  at  length  seen  riding  towards  the  camp  in  great  haste.  He 
was  the  conductor  of  five  horse-loads  of  heads,  'tis  true,  and 
they  were  heaped  up  with  great  pomp  and  parade  before  the 
principal  entrance  of  the  royal  tents  ;  but  it  became  evident  that 
something  had  taken  place  which  required  a  reinforcement;  for 
on  the  very  next  morning  our  cliief,  Namerd  Khan,  was  ap- 
pointed to  the  command  of  a  body  of  ten  thousand  cavalry, 


A    YOUNG    COUPLE    IN    DISTRESS.  179 

which  were  ordered  to  marah  immediately  to  the  banks  of  the 
Arras. 

The  Mill  Bashies,  the  heads  of  thousands  ;  the  Tuz  Bashies, 
the  heads  of  hundreds  ;  the  On  Bashies,  the  heads  of  tens  ;  and 
all  the  officers  commanding  the  troops,  were  seen  hurrying  over 
the  camp  in  various  directions,  attending  upon  their  khans,  and 
receiving  their  orders.  The  tent  of  Naraerd  Khan  was  filled 
with  the  chiefs  of  the  expedition,  to  whom  he  distributed  his 
directions,  giving  them  the  order  of  march,  and  allotting  to 
each  division  its  station  in  halting  at  the  villages  on  the  route. 
My  duty  was  to  precede  the  troops  by  a  day,  accompanied  by  a 
detachment  of  Nasakchies,  to  make  arrangements  for  billeting 
the  men  in  the  villages.  This  was  a  duty  requiring  activity  and 
exertion  ;  but  at  the  same  time  accompanied  by  great  advan- 
tages, which,  had  I  chosen  to  avail  myself  of,  might  have  in- 
creased the  weight  of  my  purse.  However,  the  recent  example 
of  Shir  Ali  Beg  was  too  strong  before  my  eyes  not  to  repress 
any  desire  I  might  have  of  levying  contributions,  so  I  deter- 
mined for  the  present  to  keep  my  hands  pure,  and  to  quench 
the  flame  of  covetousness  by  the  waters  of  prudence. 

I  set  off  with  my  detachment,  and  reached  Erivan  several 
days  before  the  troops  could  arrive.  We  here  found  the  Serdar, 
who,  after  his  attack  upon  Gavmishlu,  had  retreated,  to  wait 
the  reinforcement  of  the  cavalry  under  our  chief.  The  array 
under  the  prince  royal  had  proceeded  to  another  part  of  the 
frontier,  with  the  intention  of  attacking  the  fortress  of  Ganja, 
of  which  the  enemy  had  recently  acquired  possession,  and  una- 
ble to  spare  any  of  his  troops,  the  Serdar  had  solicited  assist- 
ance from  the  Shah. 

As  soon  as  Namerd  Khan  and  the  Serdar  had  met  and  con- 
sulted, it  was  determined  that  spies  should  immediately  be  sent 
forward  in  order  to  ascertain  the  position,  and  the  movements 
of  the  Russians ;  and  I  was  fixed  upon  to  head  a  detachment 
of  twenty  men  on  the  part  of  the  chief  executioner,  whilst  a 
similar  number  was  sent  by  the  Serdar,  who  at  the  same  time 
were  to  be  our  guides  through  such  parts  of  the  country  as  were 
unknown  to  me. 

We  assembled  at  the  close  of  day,  and  began  our  march  just 
as  the  muezzins  called  the  evening  prayer.  Troceeding  at  once 
to  the  village  of  Ashtarek,  we  passed  Etchmiazin,  the  seat  of 
the  Armenian  patriarch,  on  our  left.  It  was  scarcely  dawn  of 
day  when  we  reached  the  bridge  of  Ashtarek,  still  obscured  by 
the  deepest  shade,  owing  to  the  very  high  and  rocky  banks  of 
the  river,  forming,  as  it  were,  two  abrupt  walls  on  either  side. 
The  village  itself,  situated  on  the  brink  of  these  banks,  was  just 


180  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

sufficiently  lighted  up  to  be  distinguished  from  the  rocks  among 
which  it  was  built ;  whilst  the  ruins  of  a  large  structure,  of 
heavy  architecture,  rose  conspicuous  on  the  darkest  side,  and 
gave  a  character  of  solemnity  and  grandeur  to  the  whole 
scenery.  This,  my  companions  informed  me,  was  the  remains 
of  one  of  the  many  Armenian  churches  so  frequently  seen  in 
this  part  of  Persia.  The  river  dashed  along  through  its  dark 
bed,  and  we  could  perceive  the  foam  of  its  waters  as  we  began 
to  cross  the  bridge.  The  rattle  of  our  horses'  hoofs  over  its 
pavement  had  alarmed  the  village  dogs,  whose  bark  we  could 
just  distinguish ;  the  shrill  crow  of  a  cock  was  also  heard,  and 
most  of  our  eyes  were  directed  towards  the  houses,  when  one 
of  our  men  stopping  his  horse,  exclaimed,  "  Ya,  Ali !  (oh,  Ali !) 
what  is  that  ?"  pointing  with  his  hand  to  the  church  :  "  do  not 
you  see  there  something  white  ?" 

"Yes,  yes,"  said  another,  "I  see  it;  it's  a  gliol!  without 
doubt  it's  a  ghol  I  This  is  the  true  hour :  it  is  in  search  of  a 
corpse.     I  dare  say  it  is  devouring  one  now." 

I  also  could  see  that  something  was  there,  but  it  was  impos- 
sible to  make  it  out. 

We  halted  upon  the  bridge,  looking  up  with  all  our  eyes, 
every  one  being  satisfied  that  it  was  a  supernatural  being.  One 
called  upon  Ali,  another  upon  Hosein,  and  a  third  invoked  the 
Prophet  and  the  twelve  Imams.  None  seemed  inclined  to  ap- 
proach it,  but  every  one  suggested  some  new  mode  of  exorcism. 
"Untie  the  string  of  your  trowsers,"  said  an  old  Iraki,  "that's 
the  way  we  treat  our  ghols,  in  the  desert  near  Ispahan,  and  they 
depart  instantly." 

"What  goodwill  that  do?"  answered  a  delilchan  (a  hare- 
brained youth  ;)  "  I'd  rather  keep  the  beast  out  than  let 
it  in." 

In  short,  what  with  joking,  and  what  with  serious  talk,  the 
morning  broke  sufficiently  to  convince  us  that  the  apparition 
must  have  been  an  illusion  of  our  senses,  for  nothing  now  was 
to  be  seen.  However,  having  passed  the  bridge,  the  said  de- 
likhan,  shivering  in  his  stirrups,  and  anxious  to  gallop  his  horse, 
exclaimed,  "  I'll  go  and  find  the  ghol,"  drove  his  horse  up  a 
steep  bank,  and  made  towards  the  ruined  church.  We  saw  him 
return  very  speedily,  with  intelligence,  that  what  we  had  taken 
for  a  ghol  was  a  woman,  whose  white  veil  had  attracted  our 
notice,  and  that  she,  with  a  man,  were  apparently  hiding  them- 
selves among  the  deep  shades  of  the  broken  walls. 

Full  of  anxiety  for  whatever  might  throw  a  light  upon  the 
object  of  my  duty,  I  lost  no  time  in  proceeding  to  the  ruin,  in 
order  to  ascertain  why  these  people  hid  themselves  so  mysteri- 


A    YOUNG    COUPLE    IX    DISTRESS.  181 

ously,  and  ordering  five  men  to  follow  me,  I  made  the  rest  halt 
near  the  bridge. 

We  saw  no  one  until  turning  the  sharp  angle  of  a  wall  we 
found,  seated  under  an  arch,  the  objects  of  our  search.  A  wo- 
man, apparently  sick,  was  extended  on  the  ground,  whilst  a 
man  leaning  over,  supported  her  head,  in  an  attitude  of  the 
greatest  solicitude.  Enough  of  daylight  now  shone  upon  them, 
to  discover  that  they  were  both  young.  The  woman's  face, 
partially  hid  by  her  veil,  notwithstanding  its  deadly  paleness, 
was  surprisingly  beautiful ;  and  the  youth  was  the  finest  speci- 
men of  strength,  activity,  and  manliness  that  I  had  ever  seen. 
He  was  dressed  in  the  costume  of  Georgia,  a  long  knife  hung 
over  his  thigh,  and  a  gun  rested  against  the  wall.  Her  veil, 
which  was  of  the  purest  white,  was  here  and  there  stained  with 
blood,  and  torn  in  several  places.  Although  I  had  been  living 
amongst  men  inured  to  scenes  of  misery,  utter  strangers  to  feel- 
ings of  pity  or  commiseration,  yet  in  this  instance,  I  and  my 
companions  could  not  fail  being  much  interested  at  what  we 
saw,  and  paused  with  a  sort  of  respect  for  the  grief  of  these  ap- 
parently unfriended  strangers,  before  we  ventured  to  break  the 
silence  of  our  meeting. 

"  What  are  you  doing  here  ?"  said  I ;  "if  you  are  strangers, 
and  travelers,  why  do  you  not  go  into  the  village  ?" 

"  If  you  hare  the  feelings  of  a  man,"  said  the  youth,  "give 
me  help,  for  the  love  of  God !  Should  you  be  sent  to  seize  us 
by  the  Serdar,  still  help  me  to  save  this  poor  creature,  who  is 
dying.     I  have  no  resistance  to  offer;  but  pray  save  her." 

"  Who  are  you  ?"  said  I.  "  The  Serdar  laas  given  us  no 
orders  concerning  you.  Where  do  you  come  from  ?  Whither 
going  ?" 

"  Our  story  is  long  and  melancholy,"  said  the  young  man  : 
"  if  you  will  help  me  to  convey  this  poor  suffering  girl  where 
she  may  be  taken  care  of,  I  will  relate  everything  that  has  hap- 
pened to  us.  She  may  recover  with  good  and  kind  usage  :  she 
is  wounded,  but  I  trust  not  mortally,  and  with  quiet  may  re- 
cover. Thanks  to  Heaven,  you  are  not  one  of  the  Scrdar's 
officers  1  Perhaps  you  may  befriend  me,  and  my  lamentable 
tale  may,  perhaps,  induce  you  to  take  us  under  your  protec- 
tion." 

This  appeal  to  my  feelings  was  unnecessary:  the  counte- 
nance and  appearance  of  the  youth  had  excited  great  interest 
in  my  breast,  and  I  immediately  lent  myself  to  his  wishes,  tell- 
ing him  that  we  would,  without  delay,  convey  his  sick  friend  to 
the  village,  and  then,  having  heard  his  story,  settle  what  to  do 
for  him. 
16 


182  THE    ADVENTURES    OF    IIAJJI    EABA. 

She  had  to  this  moment  said  nothing,  but  gathered  her  veil 
round  her  with  great  jirecaution,  now  and  then  uttering  low 
groans,  which  indicated  pain,  and  venting  the  apparent  misery 
of  her  mind  by  suppressed  sighs.  I  ordered  one  of  my  fol- 
lowers to  dismount  from  his  horse  ;  we  placed  her  upon  it,  and 
immediately  proceeded  to  the  village,  where,  having  inspected 
the  interior  of  several  houses,  I  pitched  upon  that  which 
afforded  the  best  accommodation,  and  whose  owner  appeared 
obliging  and  humane  ;  there  we  deposited  her,  giving  direc- 
tions that  she  should  be  nursed  with  the  greatest  care.  An 
old  woman  of  the  village,  who  had  the  reputation  of  skill  in 
curing  wounds  and  bruises,  was  sent  for,  and  she  undertook 
her  cure.  I  learnt  from  the  youth  that  he  and  hia  com- 
panion were  Armenians ;  and  as  the  inhabitants  of  Ashtarek 
were  of  the  same  persuasion,  they  very  soon  understood  each 
other,  and  the  poor  sufferer  felt  that  she  could  not  have  falleu 
into  better  hands. 


CHAPTER  XXXYII. 

THE    HISTORY    OF    YUSUF    AND    HIS    AVIFE    MARIAM. 

It  was  my  intention  to  have  proceeded  to  the  heights  of 
Aberan,  where  we  should  have  found  a  cool  region  and  good 
pasturage  for  our  horses,  before  halting  for  the  day ;  but  hear- 
ing that  the  wandering  tribes,  whom  we  had  expected  to  find 
encamped  in  a  certain  spot,  and  upon  whose  tents  and  pro- 
visions I  had  reckoned,  were  removed  far  into  the  mountains, 
fearful  of  the  war  which  had  just  broken  out,  I  determined  to 
halt  at  Ashtarek  until  the  heat  of  the  day  should  have  subsided. 
Accordingly,  my  men  were  quartered  in  different  parts  of  the 
village  :  some  settled  themselves  under  the  arches  of  the  bridge, 
picketing  their  horses  among  the  long  grass ;  one  or  two  took 
possession  of  a  mill,  situated  in  the  bed  of  the  river,  whose 
wheel  was  turned  by  water,  made  to  flow  in  an  elevated  channel 
for  the  purpose  ;  and  I  spread  my  carpet  in  an  open  room,  built 
upon  the  shelf,  on  the  highest  part  of  the  rocky  bank,  from 
whence  I  had  a  view  of  the  whole  scene,  and  also  could  discern 
any  object  that  might  be  coming  towards  us  from  the  Russian 
frontier. 

Feeling  refreshed  by  two  hours'  sound  sleep,  upon  awaking 
I  sent  for  the  Armenian  youth  ;  and  whilst  the  good  people  of 


THE    HISTORY    OF    YUSUF    AND    HIS    WIFE    MARIAM.  183 

tlie  village  served  us  a  litrbt  breakfast,  of  which  we  were  both 
much  iu  need,  I  requested  hira  to  relate  his  adventures,  and  par- 
ticularly what  had  brought  him  into  tlie  situation  in  which  he 
had  been  discovered.  Refreshed  with  rest  and  food,  the  morn- 
ing sun  enlightening  the  spot  we  occupied,  the  manly  features 
of  the  youth  exhibited  all  their  beauty ;  and,  as  he  spoke,  their 
animation  and  earnestness  helped  wonderfully  to  convince  me 
that  all  he  said  was  the  truth.     He  spoke  as  follows  : 

"  I  am  an  Armeniau  by  birth,  and  a  Christian  ;  ray  name  is 
Yusuf.  My  father  is  chief  of  the  village  of  Gavmishlu,  inha- 
bited entirely  by  Armenians,  situated  not  far  from  the  beautiful 
river  of  Pembaki,  and  about  six  agatch  from  this  place.  In 
the  middle  of  a  verdant  country,  full  of  the  richest  pasturage, 
and  enjoying  a  climate  celebrated  for  coolness  and  serenity,  we 
are  a  healthy  and  a  hardy  race ;  and  notwithstanding  the  nu- 
merous exactions  of  our  governors,  were  happy  in  our  poverty. 
We  live  so  far  within  the  mountains,  that  we  are  more  distant 
from  the  tyranny  usually  exercised  upon  those  who  abide  nearer 
great  towns,  the  residences  of  governors;  and,  secluded  from 
the  world,  our  habits  are  simple,  and  our  modes  of  life  patri- 
archal. I  had  an  uncle,  my  father's  brother,  a  deacon,  and  an 
attendant  upon  the  head  of  our  church,  the  patriarch  at  Etch- 
miazin ;  and  another  uncle,  by  my  mother's  side,  was  the  priest 
of  our  village  :  therefore,  my  family  being  well  in  the  church, 
determined  that  I  should  follow  the  sacred  profession.  My 
father  himself,  who  subsisted  by  tilling  the  ground,  and  by  his 
own  labor  had  cleared  away  a  considerable  tract  near  the  vil- 
lage, having  two  sons  besides  me,  expected  to  receive  sufficient 
help  from  them  in  the  field,  and  therefore  agreed  to  spare  me 
for  the  church.  Accordingly,  when  about  ten  years  old,  I 
went  to  Etchmiazin  to  be  educated,  where  I  learned  to  read, 
write,  and  perform  the  church  service.  I  derived  great  plea- 
sure from  instruction,  and  read  every  book  that  came  in  my 
way.  A  very  extensive  library  of  Armenian  books  exists  at 
the  convent,  of  which  I  managed  now  and  then  to  get  a  few  ; 
and  although  mostly  on  religious  subjects,  yet  it  happened  that 
I  once  got  a  history  of  Armenia,  which  riveted  all  my  atten- 
tion;  for  I  learnt  by  it  that  we  once  were  a  nation,  having 
kings,  who  made  themselves  respected  in  the  world.  Reflect- 
ing upon  our  degraded  state  at  the  present  day,  and  consider- 
ing who  were  our  governors,  I  became  full  of  energy  to  shake 
off  the  yoke,  and  these  feelings  turned  my  thoughts  from  the 
sacred  profession  to  which  I  was  destined.  About  this  time, 
war  broke  out  between  Persia  and  Russia,  and  our  village 
lying  in  the  track  of  the  armies  marching  to  the  frontiers,  I 


184  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

felt  that  my  feraily  would  require  every  protection  possible,  and 
that  I  should  be  more  usefully  employed  with  them  than  in  the 
cloister.  Accordingly,  but  a  short  time  before  taking  priest's 
orders,  I  left  my  friends  at  Etchmiazin,  and  returned  to  my 
father's  house.  I  was  welcomed  by  every  one.  Already  had 
they  felt  the  horrors  of  war;  for  marauding  parties  of  both 
Persians  and  Russians  (both  equally  to  be  feared)  had  made 
their  appearance,  and  molested  the  peaceable  and  inoffensive 
inhabitants  of  ours  and  the  neighboring  villages.  This  fron- 
tier warfare,  in  its  general  results,  was  of  no  great  utility  to 
either  of  the  powers  at  war,  yet  to  those  who  inhabited  the 
seat  of  it,  its  consequences  were  dreadful.  We  were  con- 
tinually harassed  either  by  the  fears  of  the  invading  enemy,  or 
by  the  exactions  and  molestations  of  the  troops  of  our  own 
government.  Our  harvests  were  destroyed,  our  cattle  dis- 
persed, and  ourselves  in  constant  danger  of  being  carried  away 
prisoners.  Anxious  to  preserve  our  property,  and  our  only 
resource  to  keep  us  from  starvation,  we  continued  to  till  our 
fields,  but  went  to  work  with  swords  by  our  sides,  and  guns 
ready  loaded  slung  at  our  backs;  and  when  a  stranger  ap- 
peared, whoever  he  might  be,  we  immediately  assembled  and 
made  a  show  of  defence.  By  this  means,  for  several  years,  we 
managed,  with  great  difficulty  and  perseverance,  to  get  in  our 
harvest,  and  by  the  blessing  of  Providence,  had  enough  to  sub- 
sist upon.  But  here  I  must  begin  some  of  those  particulars 
which  relate  to  my  individual  history. 

"About  two  years  ago,  when  securing  our  harvest,  I  had 
gone  out  long  before  the  dawn  to  reap  the  com  of  one  of  our 
most  distant  fields,  armed  and  prepared  as  usual.  I  perceived 
a  Persian  horseman,  bearing  a  female  behind  him,  and  making 
great  speed  through  a  glen  that  wound  nearly  at  the  foot  of  a 
more  elevated  spot,  upon  which  I  was  standing.  The  female 
evidently  had  been  placed  there  against  her  will,  for  as  soon  as 
she  perceived  me  she  uttered  loud  shrieks,  and  extended  her 
arras.  I  immediately  flew  down  the  craggy  side  of  the  moun- 
tain, and  reached  the  lowermost  part  of  the  glen  time  enough 
to  intercept  the  horseman's  road.  I  called  out  to  him  to  stop, 
and  seconded  my  words  by  drawing  my  sword,  and  putting  my- 
self in  an  attitude  to  seize  his  bridle  as  he  passed.  Embar- 
rassed by  the  burthen  behind  him,  he  was  unable  either  to  use 
his  sword  or  the  gun  slung  at  his  back,  so  he  excited  his  horse 
to  an  increased  speed,  hoping  thus  to  ride  over  me  ;  but  I  stood 
my  ground,  and  as  I  made  a  cut  with  my  sabre,  the  horse 
bounded  from  the  road  with  so  sudden  a  start,  that  the  fright- 
ened woman  lost  her  hold  and  fell  off.     The  horseman,  free  of 


THE    HISTORY    OF    YUSUF    AND    HIS    WIFE    MARUM.  185 

Ill's  incnmbrance,  would  now  have  used  his  gun  ;  but,  seeing 
mine  already  aimed  at  hiin,  he  thought  it  most  prudent  to  con- 
tinue his  road,  and  I  saw  nothing  more  of  him. 

"I  ran  to  the  assistance  of  the  fallen  woman,  whom  by  her 
dress  I  discovered  to  be  an  Armenian.  She  was  stunned  and 
severely  bruised :  her  outward  veil  had  already  disengaged 
itself,  and  in  order  to  give  her  air,  I  immediately  pulled  away 
the  under  veil  which  hides  the  lower  part  of  the  face,  (common 
to  the  Armenians,)  and,  to  my  extreme  surprise,  beheld  the 
most  beautiful  features  that  imagination  can  conceive.  The 
lovely  creature  whom  I  supported  in  my  arms  was  about  fifteen 
years  of  age.  Oh  I  I  shall  never  forget  the  thrill  of  love,  de- 
light,  and  apprehension,  which  I  felt  at  gazing  upon  her.  I 
hung  over  her  with  all  the  intenseness  of  a  first  passion  ;  a  feel- 
ing arose  in  my  heart  which  was  new  to  me,  and,  forgetting 
everything  but  the  object  immediately  before  me,  I  verily  be- 
lieve that  I  should  have  been  forever  riveted  to  that  spot,  had 
she  not  opened  her  eyes,  and  begun  to  show  signs  of  life.  The 
first  words  she  spoke  went  to  my  very  soul ;  but  when  she  dis- 
covered where  she  was,  and  in  the  hands  of  an  utter  stranger, 
she  began  to  cry  and  bewail  herself  in  a  manner  that  quite 
alarmed  me.  Little  by  little,  however,  she  became  more  com- 
posed ;  and  when  she  found  tliat  I  was  one  of  her  own  nation 
and  religion,  that  I  was,  moreover,  her  deliverer,  she  began  to 
look  upon  me  with  diiTerent  feelings :  my  vanity  made  me  hope 
that,  perhaps,  she  was  not  displeased  at  the  interest  she  had 
awakened  in  me.  One  thing,  however,  she  did  not  cease  to  de- 
plore, and  to  upbraid  me  with — I  had  withdra\\ni  her  veil — there 
was  no  forgiveness  for  me — that  indulgence  which  even  a  hus- 
band scarcely  ever  enjoys,  that  distinguishing  emblem  of  chastity 
and  honor,  so  sacred  in  the  eyes  of  an  Armenian  woman — every 
sense  of  decency  had  been  disregarded  by  me,  and  I  stood  be- 
fore her  in  the  criminal  character  of  one  who  had  seen  all  her 
face.  In  vain  I  represented,  that  had  I  not  relieved  her  mouth 
and  npse  from  the  pressure  of  the  lower  band,  she  must  have 
suffocated;  that  her  fall  having  deprived  her  of  all  sensation, 
had  she  not  iuhaled  the  fresh  air,  death  would  have  been  the 
consequence.  Nothing  would  convince  her  that  she  was  not  a 
lost  woman.  However,  the  following  argument  had  more  eflect 
upon  her  than  any  other;  no  one  but  myself  was  witness  to  her 
dishonor,  (if  such  she  must  call  it,)  and  I  swore  so  fervently  by 
the  Holy  Cross,  and  by  St.  Gregorio,  that  it  should  remain  a 
profound  secret  in  ray  heart  as  long  as  I  had  one  to  keep  it  in, 
that  she  permitted  herself  at  length  to  be  comforted.  I  then 
requested  her  to  give  me  an  account  of  her  late  adventure, 
IG* 


186  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

and  to  tell  me  from  whom  it  had  been  my  good  fortune  to 
liberate  her. 

"  'As  for  the  man,'  said  she,  '  all  I  know  of  him  is,  that  he 
is  a  Persian.  I  never  saw  him  before,  and  know  of  no  object 
that  he  could  have  had  in  carrying  me  off,  excepting  to  sell  me 
for  a  slave.  A  few  days  ago  a  skirmish  took  place  between  a 
detaeliment  of  Persian  cavalry  and  Georgians.  The  latter  were 
driven  back,  and  the  Persians  made  some  prisoners,  whom  they 
carried  away  in  great  triumph  to  Erivan.  Our  village  had 
been  occupied  by  the  Persian  troops  some  days  before  this 
affray,  and  I  suppose  then  my  ravisher  laid  his  plan  to  carry 
me  off,  and  make  me  pass  for  a  Georgian  prisoner.  I  had  just 
got  up  in  the  morning,  and  had  gone  to  the  village-well  with 
my  pitcher  to  bring  home  water,  when  he  darted  from  behind 
a  broken  wall,  showed  his  knife,  threatening  to  kill  me  if  I  did 
not  follow  him  without  noise,  and  made  me  mount  behind  him  on 
his  horse.  We  galloped  away  just  as  some  other  of  the  village 
maidens  were  proceeding  to  the  well,  and  my  only  hope  of 
being  saved  was  from  the  alarm  which  I  knew  they  would  in- 
stantly spread.  We  were  out  of  sight  in  a  few  minutes,  for  we 
rode  furiously  over  hill  and  dale,  and  cut  across  parts  of  the 
country  unfrequented  by  travelers.  At  length,  seeing  you  on 
the  brow  of  the  hill,  I  took  courage,  and  gave  vent  to  my 
cries,  notwithstanding  the  threats  of  the  Persian.  You  know 
the  rest.' 

"  She  had  scarcely  finished  speaking  when  we  discovered 
several  persons,  one  on  horseback,  the  rest  on  foot,  making 
towards  us  in  great  haste,  and  as  they  approached  and  were  re- 
cognized by  my  fair  one,  it  was  delightful  to  watch  her  emotions. 

"  '  Oh  !  there  is  my  father,'  exclaimed  she,  '  and  my  brothers  ! 
there  is  Ovanes,  and  Agoop,  and  Aratoon  !  and  my  uncle  too  !' 

"As  they  came  up,  she  embraced  them  all  with  transports 
of  delight.  I  was  in  agonies  of  apprehension  lest  some  youth 
should  appear,  who  might  have  excited  other  feelings  in  her 
heart ;  but  no,  none  but  relations  were  there.  They  explained 
to  her  that  the  alarm  of  her  seizure  had  been  spread  through- 
out the  village  hy  her  young  friends  ;  that  luckily  they  had  not 
yet  gone  to  the  fields,  and  the  family  horse  was  at  home,  upon 
which  her  father  was  instantly  mounted.  They  had  traced  the 
fresh  footsteps  of  her  ravisher's  horse  as  long  as  he  kept  the 
road,  had  marked  the  place  where  he  turned  from  it,  had  seen 
them  again  in  several  places,  had  tracked  him  through  a  corn- 
field that  led  up  a  steep  slope,  and  at  length,  from  a  high  sum- 
mit, Ovanes  had  seen  them  descending  a  glen,  which  must  have 
been  very  near  the  spot  where  they  had  now  found  her. 


THE    HISTORY    OF    YUSUF    AXD    HIS    WIFE    MARIAM.  187 

"  She  said  all  this  was  true,  and  thanked  God  and  St.  Gre- 
gory for  her  escape  ;  and,  after  some  hesitation,  in  a  most  em- 
barrassed manner,  pointed  me  out  as  her  deliverer.  The  atten- 
tion of  the  whole  party  was  then  directed  to  me.  '  Whose  sou 
are  you  ?'  said  the  old  man,  her  father. 

"  '  I  am  the  son  of  Coja  Petros,'  said  I,  '  the  chief  of  the  vil- 
lage of  Gavmishlu.' 

"  '  Ah  !  he  is  my  friend  and  neighbor,'  answered  he  ;  '  but  I 
do  not  know  you  ;  perhaps  you  are  the  son  who  was  educating 
at  the  Three  Churches  for  a  priest,  and  who  came  to  the  help 
of  your  family  ?' 

"  I  answered  in  the  affirmative,  and  then  he  said  ;  '  You  are 
welcome?  May  your  house  prosper!  You  have  saved  our 
daughter,  and  we  owe  you  eternal  gratitude.  You  must  come 
with  us  and  be  our  guest.  If  ever  it  were  necessary  to  kill  a 
lamb,  to  eat  and  be  merry,  it  is  now.  We,  and  all  our  fami- 
lies, will  carry  you  upon  our  heads  ;  we  will  kiss  your  feet,  and 
smooth  yonr  brow,  for  having  saved  our  Mariam,  and  pre- 
served her  from  dragging  out  her  existence  the  slave  of  the 
Mussulman. 

"  I  then  received  the  congratulations  and  kind  speeches  of 
her  brothers  and  uncle,  who  all  invited  me  to  their  village  in 
so  pressing  a  manner,  that,  unable  to  resist,  and  propelled  by 
my  anxiety  to  see  Mariam,  I  accepted  their  offer,  and  we  forth- 
with proceeded  in  a  body. 

"  As  we  w^ere  winding  down  the  side  of  one  of  the  moun- 
tains, Mariam's  village,  for  such  I  shall  call  it,  was  pointed  out  to 
me,  situated  among  trees,  snugly  seated  in  a  warm  nook,  pro- 
tected from  every  wind  but  the  east,  which  here  coming  from 
the  Kulzum  or  the  Caspian  Sea,  is  delightfully  cool  and  serene. 
Beyond  was  the  Pembaki  River,  winding  its  way  through  a 
beautiful  valley,  diversified  by  rich  vegetation  ;  and  at  a  greater 
distance  we  could  just  discern  the  church  of  Kara  Klisseh,  or 
the  Black  Monastery,  the  first  station  of  the  Russians  on  this 
part  of  their  frontier,  and  situated  on  a  dark  and  precipitous 
rock,  rising  conspicuous  among  the  verdure  of  the  surrounding- 
scenery. 

"  When  near  the  village,  we  discovered  that  all  its  inhabit- 
ants, particularly  the  women  and  children,  had  been  wateliing 
our  steps  down  the  slope,  anxious  to  know  whether  Mariam  liad 
been  retaken;  and  when  they  saw  her  safe,  there  was  no  end 
to  their  expressions  of  joy.  The  story  of  her  fliglit  and  of  her 
rescue  was  soon  told,  and  carried  from  one  mouth  to  another 
with  such  rapidity  and  with  such  additional  circumstances,  that 
at  length  it  came  out  that  she  had  been  carried  away  by  a 


188  THE    ADVENTURES    OF    HAJJI    BABA. 

giant,  who  bad  an  iron  head,  claws  and  feet  of  steel,  and  scales 
on  his  back,  mounted  upon  a  beast  that  tore  up  the  ground  at 
every  bound,  and  made  noises  in  its  rapid  course  over  the  hills 
like  the  discharges  of  artillery.  They  added  to  this,  that  of  a 
sudden  an  angel,  in  the  shape  of  a  ploughboy,  descended  from 
the  top  of  a  high  mountain  in  a  cloud,  and  as  he  wielded  a 
sword  of  fire  in  his  hand,  it  frightened  the  horse,  threw  Mariam 
to  the  ground,  and  reduced  the  giant  and  his  steed  to  ashes  ; 
for  when  she  recovered  from  her  fright,  they  were  no  longer  to 
be  seen.  I  was  pointed  out  as  the  illustrious  ploughboy,  and  im- 
mediately the  attention  of  the  whole  village  was  turned  towards 
me ;  but,  unfortunately,  when  about  receiving  nearly  divine 
honors,  a  youth,  whom  I  had  frequently  met  tending  cattle  in 
the  mountains,  recognized  me,  and  said,  '  He  is  no  angel — he 
is  Yusuf,  the  son  of  Coja  Petros,  of  Gavmishlu  ;'  and  thus  I 
was  reduced  to  my  mortality  once  more.  However  I  was 
treated  with  the  greatest  distinction  by  everybody,  and 
Mariara's  relations  could  not  sufficiently  testify  their  gratitude 
for  the  service  I  had  rendered.  But,  all  this  time,  love  was 
making  deep  inroads  in  my  heart.  I  no  longer  saw  Mariam 
unveiled,  that  happy  moment  of  my  life  had  gone  by  ;  but  it 
had  put  the  seal  to  my  future  fate.  '  No,'  said  I  to  myself, 
'  nothing  shall  separate  me  from  that  beautiful  maid  :  our  des- 
tinies forthwith  are  one ;  Heaven  has  miraculously  brought  us 
together,  and  nothing  but  the  decrees  of  Providence  shall  dis- 
unite us,  even  though  to  gain  her  I  should  be  obliged  to  adopt 
the  violence  of  the  Persian,  and  carry  her  away  by  force.'  We 
met  now  and  then,  Mariam  and  I ;  and  although  our  words 
were  few,  yet  our  eyes  said  much,  and  I  knew  that  my  passion 
was  returned.  Oh,  how  I  longed  to  have  met  and  engaged 
another,  ay,  twenty  more  Persians,  to  prove  my  love  !  but  I 
recollected  that  I  was  nothing  but  a  poor  Armenian,  belong- 
ing to  a  degraded  and  despised  nation,  and  that  the  greatest 
feat  which  I  could  ever  expect  to  perform  would  be  to  keep  the 
wolf  from  my  father's  flocks,  or  to  drive  the  marauder  from  our 
fields. 

"I  remained  the  whole  of  that  eventful  day  at  Geuklu,  (the 
name  of  the  village,)  where  the  promised  lamb  was  killed,  and 
a  large  caldron  of  rice  boiled.  I  returned  on  the  following  day 
to  my  parents,  who  had  been  alarmed  at  my  absence,  and  who 
listened  to  the  history  of  my  adventures  with  all  the  earnestness 
and  interest  that  I  could  wish. 

"I  was  so  entirely  absorbed  by  my  love,  that  I  could  think 
of  nothing  else ;  therefore  I  determined  to  inform  them  of  the 
situation  of  my  affections-.     '  I  am  of  an  age  now,'  said  I  to 


THE   HISTORY   OP   YUSUF    AND    HIS   WIFE   MARIAM.  189 

them,  '  to  think  and  act  for  myself.  Thanks  to  God,  and  to 
yon,  I  have  strong  arms,  and  can  work  for  my  bi'ead :  I  wish 
to  marry,  and  Providence  has  prepared  the  way  for  me.' 

"  I  then  requested  them  forthwith  to  demand  Mariam  from 
her  pai'ents,  in  order  that  I  might  make  her  my  wife  ;  and  fin- 
ished by  kissing  my  father's  hand,  and  embracing  my  mother. 

"  They  said  in  answer,  '  That  marriage  was  a  serious  con- 
sideration in  these  difficult  times,  and  that  the  family  was  now 
too  poor  to  incur  the  expense  of  a  wedding.  It  was  necessary 
to  buy  clothes,  a  ring,  candles,  sweetmeats,  a  crimson  veil,  bed 
and  bed-covering,  to  pay  the  singers  and  musicians,  and  to 
make  a  feast ;  and  where  was  money  to  be  found  to  meet  all 
this  ?' 

"  I  said,  '  'Tis  true  that  money  is  wanted,  and  that  no  mar- 
riage can  take  place  without  it,  both  for  the  honor  of  our 
family,  and  for  the  purpose  of  showing  my  love  to  my  intended  : 
but  I  can  borrow ;  I  have  friends  both  at  Erivan  and  at  the 
Three  Churches ;  and  I  think  I  could  borrow  enough  from  the 
one  and  the  other  to  pay  the  expenses  of  my  wedding  ;  and  as 
for  re-payment,  I  will  work  so  laboriously,  and  live  so  frugally, 
that  little  by  little  I  shall  pay  off  my  debt.  Besides  I  can  be- 
come the  servant  of  a  merchant,  who  would  give  me  a  share  in 
his  adventures ;  and  one  journey  to  Constantinople  or  to  As- 
trachan  would  yield  me  enough  profit  to  repay  every  one  with 
interest.' 

"  In  short,  I  said  so  much,  that  at  length  they  were  per- 
suaded to  make  the  necessary  overtures  to  the  parents  of  Ma- 
riam ;  and  it  was  fixed,  that  in  the  course  of  a  few  days  my 
father,  my  uncle  the  priest,  and  one  of  the  elders  of  the  village, 
should  proceed  to  Geuklu,  and  ask  her  in  marriage  for  me.  In 
the  meanwhile,  I  myself  had  been  there  almost  every  day,  upon 
one  pretext  or  another,  and  I  had  had  several  opportunities 
of  informing  her  of  my  intentions,  in  order  that  she  and  her 
family  might  not  be  taken  unawares. 

"  My  father  and  his  colleagues  were  very  well  received  by 
the  parents  of  my  intended.  Having  talked  over  the  matter, 
and  seizing  this  opportunity  of  drinking  some  more  than  usual 
glasses  of  arrack,  they  agreed  that  we  should  be  united  as  soon 
as  the  marriage  articles  should  have  been  agreed  upon,  and  the 
forms  of  the  nam  zed  (the  ceremony  of  betrothing)  should  have 
been  gone  through. 

"  Tliree  days  after  this,  my  mother,  accompanied  by  two  old 
women  of  our  village,  by  my  uncle  the  priest,  and  me,  pro- 
ceeded to  Geuklu  for  the  purposes  of  the  nam  zed,  and  settling 
the  terms  of  the  marriage.     They  were  received  with  more 


190  THK    ADVENTURES    OF    HAJJI    BABA. 

ceremony  than  ray  father  and  his  colleagues  had  been,  and  the 
women  of  the  other  party  having  met  ours,  negotiations  were 
opened. 

"My  mother  offered,  on  my  part,  that  I  should  give  of 
clothes  to  my  bride  two  full  suits,  consisting  of  two  shifts,  one 
of  crimson  silk,  the  other  of  blue  cotton  ;  two  pair  of  trowsers, 
one  of  silk,  the  other  of  striped  cotton;  two  jubbe/is,  or  robes, 
fitting  tight  to  the  body,  of  chintz  ;  two  veils,  one  of  white  cot- 
ton, the  other  of  chequered  blue  ;  two  pair  of  slippers,  one  of 
green  shagreen  skin  and  high  heels,  the  other  of  brown  leather, 
with  flat  bone  heels,  and  shod  with  iron  :  and  I  was  also  to 
add  a  printed  muslin  handkerchief,  and  a  set  of  bandages  and 
kerchiefs  for  the  head.  She  moreover  offered  fifty  piastres  in 
silver  coin  for  minor  expenses ;  and  a  chain  for  the  neck,  from 
which  there  should  be  suspended  one  gold  tomaun  of  Persia. 

"  After  some  little  consultation  among  the  friends  of  my 
wife,  this  was  agreed  upon  ;  but  one  of  the  old  women,  who 
had  been  a  servant  in  a  Persian  family,  started  a  demand  which 
gave  rise  to  some  discussion  ;  it  was,  that  I  ought  to  give 
something  for  sheer  haha,  or  milk  money,  as  is  the  custom 
throughout  Persia.  Our  party  said  this  was  not  usual  among 
the  Armenians  ;  the  adverse  party  contended  it  was  ;  in  short, 
words  were  running  high,  when  I  requested  mv  mother  not  to 
make  any  difficulty,  but  to  offer  ten  piastres  mo're  ;  which  being 
agreed  upon,  the  whole  was  amicably  adjusted  to  the  satisfac- 
tion of  both  parties. 

"  This  had  taken  place  among  the  women  alone.  I  was  then 
called  in,  with  my  uncle,  to  go  through  the  ceremony,  and  strict 
injunctions  were  made  me  not  to  laugh,  nor  even  to  smile, 
whilst  it  lasted  ;  for  ill  luck  would  attend  the  marriage  if  any- 
thing so  indecorous  took  place  at  the  first  interview. 

"  I  found  my  mother  seated  on  the  ground,  flanked  by  her 
two  old  women,  opposite  to  my  bride's  mother,  supported  by 
hers.  Mariam  entered  at  the  same  time  as  I,  and  my  mother 
then  presented  her  with  a  ring  (a  brass  one,  alas  !)  from  me, 
which  she  put  on  her  finger,  and  then  wine  was  administered 
to  the  priest :  of  which,  when  he  had  taken  a  copious  draught, 
it  was  announced  that  we  were  betrothed  man  and  wife,  and  we 
received  the  congratulations  of  all  those  around  us.  I  was  de- 
lighted, although  prohibited  from  communicating  with  my 
intended;  but  went  about  kissing  everybody,  and  so  many 
benedictions  were  showered  upon  us,  that  perhaps  no  couple 
ever  was  so  much  blessed,  by  good  wishes  at  least,  as  we  were. 

"  My  mother  and  her  party  having  returned  to  our  village,  I 
proceeded  to  make  the  preparations  for  my  wedding  with  a  light 


THE   HISTORY    OF    YUSUF    AND    HIS    WIFE    MARIAM,  191 

heart,  regardless  of  any  event  which  might  intervene  to  de- 
stroy it.  When  we  came  to  discuss  the  money  it  was  likely  to 
cost,  and  the  means  of  obtaining  it,  I  was  agreeably  surprised  to 
see  my  father  walk  into  the  room  where  the  family  was  assem- 
bled, with  a  bag  in  his  hand.  '  Here,'  said  he,  '  here  is  money. 
After  all,  the  ked  khoda  of  Gavmishlu  can  provide  for  his  son 
as  well  as  the  best  he  in  the  country.  Here,  Yusuf,'  said  he  to 
me,  '  take  these  ten  tomauns,  my  sou,  and  lay  them  out  in  the 
purchase  of  your  wife's  clothes.' 

"  Upon  which  I  knelt  down,  kissed  his  hand,  and  craved  his 
blessing. 

"  My  uncle,  the  priest,  warmed  by  this  generosity,  said,  'And 
here,  nephew — the  church  is  poor  indeed,  and  its  ministers 
poorer — but  here — take  these  twenty  silver  abassis,  and  expend 
them  in  tapers  for  your  wedding.  Others  of  those  seated  in 
the  assembly  also  gave  me  something ;  by  which  means,  with- 
out being  reduced  to  the  necessity  of  borrowing,  I  found  my 
purse  sufBciently  well  supplied  to  enable  me  to  "make  my  pur- 
chases at  once.  I  expressed  my  thanks  to  ray  benefactors; 
and  never  before  having  had  so  much  money  in  my  possession, 
I  scarcely  knew  what  countenance  to  keep.  However,  my  im- 
patience knew  no  bounds ;  I  was  anxious  to  be  already  on  my 
road  to  Erivan,  where  the  clothes  were  to  be  bought;  for 
there  was  no  place  nearer  than  that  city  in  which  a  bazaar 
was  to  be  befound.  But  as  I  was  ignorant  of  the  arts  of  buying, 
and  particularly  ill  versed  in  women's  dresses,  it  was  decided 
that  my  mother  should  accompany  me  mounted  on  our  ass, 
whilst  I  followed  on  foot.  She  had  an  Armenian  friend  at 
Erivan,  who  would  take  us  in  for  a  night  or  two ;  and  as  for 
sleeping  on  the  road,  we  could  take  up  our  abode  in  the  tents 
of  the  wandering  tribes,  whose  duties  bind  them  to  hospitality 
towards  the  stranger. 

"  We  departed,  she  on  the  ass,  I  with  my  sword  by  my  side, 
and  my  gun  on  my  shoulder;  and  followed  by  half  the  village, 
invoking  good  luck  for  us. 

"  Having  reached  the  heights  of  Abcran,  we  discovered  an 
immense  camp  of  white  tents ;  one  of  which,  belonging  to  the 
chief,  was  of  a  magnificent  size.  A  horseman  whom  we  met 
informed  us  that  the  Serdar  of  Erivan  was  encamped  there  with 
a  considerable  body  of  cavalry  :  and  it  was  supposed  posted  to 
watch  the  motions  of  the  Russians  and  Georgians,  who,  it  was 
expected,  were  likely  soon  to  move  their  forces  forwards  to  the 
attack  of  Persia.' 

"  This  intelligence  gave  us  considerable  alarm.  My  mother 
was  for  returning  home,  and  for  putting  off  the  wedding.    Too 


192  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA, 

much  in  love  to  hearken  to  such  a  proposal,  I  urged  her  to 
travel  more  expeditiously,  that  we  might  be  back  the  sooner. 
We  proceeded  so  far  on  the  first  day,  that  I  could  see  the 
smoke  of  Erivan  in  the  distance.  We  passed  the  night  under 
a  projecting  rock,  with  the  majestic  mountain  of  Arrarat  in 
fall  view ;  and  did  not  fail  to  cross  ourselves  when  we  first  came 
in  view  of  it,  and  of  recommending  ourselves  to  St.  Gregorio, 
when  we  composed  ourselves  to  sleep.  The  wandering  tribes 
had  gone  too  far  out  of  our  track  for  our  purpose,  therefore  we 
did  not  think  of  seeking  their  protection ;  but,  refreshed  with 
our  night's  rest,  we  resumed  our  journey  early  in  the  morning, 
and  reached  Erivan  in  safety. 

"  My  mother  was  received  by  her  friend  with  kindness ;  and 
the  day  after  our  arrival,  we  went  to  the  bazaar  to  make  pur- 
chases of  the  wedding  clothes,  whilst  I  roamed  about,  gaping 
at  everything,  and  listening  to  the  speeches  of  those  who  were 
gathered  together  on  the  market-place.  Various  were  the 
rumors  concerning  the  operations  of  the  Serdar  against  the 
enemy.  It  was  evident  that  some  movement  was  likely  soon 
to  take  place,  and  an  attack  of  an  extraordinary  nature  to  be 
made:  for  the  people  at  the  arsenal,  and  powder  works,  had 
been  more  than  usually  employed  in  making  ready  certain 
instruments*  of  destruction,  before  unknown  in  Persia,  and  set 
on  foot  by  Russian  deserters  themselves.  I  was  so  entirely 
taken  up  by  my  own  affairs,  and  by  the  happiness  in  store  for 
me,  that  this  sort  of  intelligence  passed  by  me  totally  unheeded. 
It  just  struck  me,  that  we  might  endeavor  to  secure  the  protec- 
tion of  the  Serdar,  through  our  chief  at  the  Three  Churches, 
in  case  our  village  and  its  territory  became  the  theatre  of  war  ; 
but  when  I  reflected  upon  the  length  of  time  it  would  take  to 
make  such  a  deviation  from  our  road,  I  abandoned  the  idea, 
and,  in  my  impatience,  trusted  to  my  own  sword  and  musket 
as  sufficient  protection  against  all  invaders. 

"  My  mother  and  I  returned  to  our  village  by  the  same  road 
we  came,  but  not  with  quite  so  much  speed ;  for  the  ass  was 
laden  with  our  purchases,  and,  in  addition  to  my  arms,  I  also 
carried  a  considerable  share  of  the  burthen.  The  Serdar's 
camp  was  still  in  the  same  place,  and  we  passed  on  without 
hindrance  or  any  occurrence  worth  relating,  until  we  reached 
the  high  ground  that  overlooks  Gavmishlu. 

"  The  sight  of  a  tent  first  struck  my  mother,  and  she 
stopped. 

*  It  is  supposed  that  the  instruments  here  alluded  to  were  hand-grenades. 


THE    HISTORY    OF    YUSUF    AND    HIS    WIFE    MARIAM.  193 

"'What  is  that,  Yusuf?'  she  cried  out  to  me:  'see,  there  is 
a' tent.' 

"  I,  who  had  no  thoughts  in  my  head  but  those  that  con- 
cerned my  wedding,  answered,  '  Yes,  I  see ;  perhaps  they  are 
making  preparations  for  an  entertainment  for  us.' 

"  'My  husband's  beard  with  your  entertainment!'  exclaimed 
she  ;  '  what  is  become  of  your  wits  ?  Either  Russians  or  Per- 
sians are  there,  as  sure  as  I  am  a  Christian ;  and  in  either  case 
it  is  bad  for  us.' 

"We  pushed  on  towards  our  dwelling  with  the  greatest 
anxiety ;  and,  as  we  approached  it,  found  that  my  mother  had 
judged  right.  The  village  had  been  just  occupied  by  a  small 
detachment  of  Russian  infantry,  composed  of  fifty  men,  com- 
manded by  a  penjah  hashi,  or  a  head  of  fifty,  who  it  seems, 
formed  the  advanced  posts  of  an  army  quartered  at  a  day's 
distance  from  us.  Every  house  in  the  village  had  been  obliged 
to  lodge  a  certain  number  of  men,  and  ours,  as  the  best,  and 
belonging  to  the  chief,  was  taken  up  by  the  captain. 

"  You  may  conceive  our  consternation  on  finding  this  state 
of  things,  and,  in  particular,  how  wretched  I  was  from  the  ap- 
prehension that  my  wedding  must  be  put  off  to  an  indefinite 
time,  when  perhaps  ruin  would  have  overwhelmed  us,  and  left 
us  naked  and  destitute  fugitives.  Oh  !  the  idea  was  too  over- 
whelming, and  I  hastened  to  give  vent  to  my  feelings  to  my 
friends  at  Geuklu,  who  perhaps  might  afford  me  some  consola- 
tion. Their  village  being  considerably  out  of  the  track  of  the 
invaders,  no  troops  had  yet  made  their  appearance  amongst 
them ;  but  when  they  heard  what  was  passing  on  our  side  of 
the  country,  they  immediately  became  partakers  of  all  our 
fears.  I  saw  Mariam,  dear  child  of  nature  !  The  customs  of 
our  country  did  not  permit  us  to  converse  openly ;  but  love 
is  fertile  in  expedients,  and  we  managed  to  pour  out  eternal 
vows  of  constancy,  and  to  swear  upon  the  holy  cross  of  our 
faith,  that,  happen  what  might,  we  would  ever  be  united. 

"  These  interviews  happened  frequently,  and  I  became  almost 
mad  with  rage  and  disappointment  that  we  could  not  marry. 
It  was  evident  that  some  terrible  catastrophe  must  take  place 
soon — the  armies  might  meet  from  day  to  day,  and  then  what 
would  become  of  the  rejoicings  of  our  wedding-day  !  To  un- 
dertake the  performance  of  a  ceremony  of  such  importance, 
under  these  circumstances,  would  only  be  mocking  Providence, 
and  preparing  for  ourselves  a  futurity  of  misfortune.  How- 
ever, I  was  too  much  in  love,  and  too  impatient,  not  to  have 
married  under  any  circumstances,  therefore  I  only  endured 
what  I  could  not  well  resist. 
IT 


194  THE    ADVENTURES    OF    HAJJI    BAB  A. 

"  However,  a  fortnight  had  elapsed  since  our  return,  and  no- 
thing had  happened.  We  were  upon  excellent  terms  with  our 
guests  the  Russians,  and  as  they  were  quiet  and  inoflensive,  in- 
finitely more  so  than  the  Persians  would  have  been  under  similar 
circumstances,  we  became  very  intimate.  They  were  Christians 
as  well  as  we  ;  they  made  the  sign  of  the  cross  ;  prayed  at  our 
church  ;  eat  pork  and  drank  wine ;  all  circumstances  producing 
great  sympathy  of  feeling,  and  strengthening  the  bonds  of  friend- 
ship between  us.  Their  captain  was  a  young  man  of  great 
worth,  and  of  such  uupresuming  manners  that  he  gave  univer- 
sal satisfaction.  He  kept  the  strictest  discipline  among  his 
troops,  and  was  himself  the  soberest  of  mankind.  He  was  cu- 
rious to  instruct  himself  in  our  manners  and  customs,  and  en- 
couraged us  to  converse  with  him  upon  everything  that  inte- 
rested our  family.  This  brought  on  a  full  exposition  of  our 
situation  in  regard  to  my  wedding,  to  which  he  listened  with  a 
degree  of  interest  so  great,  as  to  make  him  my  friend  for  life. 

"He  said,  'but  why  should  it  not  take  place  now?  There 
is  nothing  to  hinder  it :  we  are  here  to  protect  you,  and  what- 
ever we  can  give  or  lend,  I  promise  that  I  will  procure.  The 
Persians  do  not  show  the  least  sign  of  moving,  and  our  army 
must  wait  for  reiuforcements  from  Teflis  before  it  can  advance 
further ;  therefore  you  will  have  all  the  necessary  time  to  per- 
form your  ceremonies  in  quiet  and  happiness,  and  perhaps  with 
more  splendor  than  if  we  had  not  been  here.' 

"  He,  moreover,  promised  to  make  a  present  to  the  bride  of 
some  Georgian  gold  lace,  and  to  lend  me  his  horse,  a  fine  Ka- 
radaghi,  which  I  might  mount  on  the  occasion.  He  said  so 
much,  that  he  at  length  persuaded  mine  and  my  bride's  relations 
not  to  defer  the  ceremony,  and  a  day  was  fixed.  Had  any 
other  man  pressed  the  business  so  much,  and  appeared  so  per- 
sonally interested  in  it,  I  should  probably  have  been  suspicious 
of  the  purity  of  his  intentions,  and  certain  feelings  of  jealousy 
might  have  arisen ;  but  the  captain  was  so  ugly,  so  hideously 
ugly,  so  opposite  to  what  passes  for  beauty  amongst  us,  that  I 
could  have  no  fear  concerning  Mariam  on  his  account ;  for  if 
she  could  notice  him,  she  could  with  the  same  facility  become 
enamored  of  an  ape.  His  face  was  composed  of  a  white  lep- 
rous skin,  with  a  head  covered  by  hair,  or  rather  quills,  thrown 
about  in  a  variety  of  stiff  lines,  of  the  color  of  straw ;  his  eyes 
were  round  holes  scooped  deep  in  their  sockets,  and  situated 
behind  small  hillocks  of  cheek-bones  ;  his  nose  was  marked  by 
a  little  bit  of  flesh,  under  which  were  pierced  two  holes  as  if 
with  an  awl,  and  his  chin,  as  lucid  as  glass,  without  the  smallest 
symptom  of  hair  upon  it.     A  little  down  grew  over  his  upper 


THE    HISTORY    OF    YUSUF    AND    HIS    WIFE    MARIAM.  195 

lip,  which  for  length  and  prominence  quite  ontdid  its  fellow; 
and  this  indication  of  a  man  was  as  carefully  kept  greased  and 
blacked  as  a  pair  of  Immense  boots  in  which  his  legs  were  al- 
ways cased. 

"'No,'  said  I,  to  myself,  'Mariam  would  sooner  love  her 
Persian  giant  than  this  creature ;  and  when  she  comes  to  com- 
pare him  to  her  intended,  looking  over  myself  at  the  same  time 
with  some  complacency,  1  flatter  myself  that  I  may  lay  my 
jealous  fears  aside.' 

"And  thus  it  was  settled  that  I  should  wed.  The  evening 
before  the  wedding-day,  the  clothes  and  other  articles,  placed 
in  trays  borne  upon  men's  heads,  and  preceded  by  singers  and 
musicians,  (of  which  some  arc  to  be  found  in  every  village,) 
were  sent  to  my  bride.  My  band  consisted  of  a  man  who 
played  on  the  zourna,  or  hautboys,  a  performer  on  the  tambou- 
rine, and  two  who  sang.  As  a  mark  of  additional  splendor, 
our  Russian  friends  lent  us  a  drum,  the  beating  of  which  by  one 
of  our  shepherd  boys  produced  great  effect  all  over  the  country. 
I  followed  my  present  a  few  hours  after,  for  the  purpose  of  re- 
ceiving the  one  which  my  bride,  according  to  custom,  was  to 
make  me  ;  consisting  of  a  pair  of  brass-mounted  pistols,  made 
in  the  Caucasus,  which  had  belonged  to  a  great  uncle  of  hers, 
who  had  been  a  soldier  in  the  troops  of  the  ly^ali  of  Georgia, 
before  the  Russians  had  got  possession  of  that  country. 

"  On  the  following  day,  the  day  of  iny  long  expected  happi- 
ness, I  and  all  my  family  arose  betimes  in  the  morning.  The 
weather  was  serene  but  sultry  :  there  had  been  a  tendency  to 
storm  for  several  days  before,  and  heavy  clouds  stood  in  threat- 
ening attitudes  with  their  white  heads  in  the  horizon.  But  na- 
ture was  beautiful  and  refreshed  by  a  shower  that  had  fallen  in 
the  night.  My  friend,  the  captain,  lent  me  his  horse,  which  I 
caparisoned  and  ornamented  as  well  as  I  could  on  the  occasion. 
I  myself  put  on  a  new  suit  of  clothes  from  head  to  foot,  and 
with  the  addition  of  many  silver-studded  belts,  cartouche-boxes, 
daggers,  and  other  appendages  fastened  about  me,  and  which 
had  been  lent  me  by  a  Georgian  in  the  service  of  the  Russians, 
I  was  told,  and  I  believe  it,  that  I  made  a  very  handsome  ap- 
pearance. Accompanied  by  male  relations,  the  Russian  captain, 
and  as  many  of  his  men  as  could  be  spared  in  order  to  create  a 
crowd,  we  proceeded  to  Geuklu,  and  approaching  it,  marshaled 
ourselves  in  procession,  preceded  by  music,  songs,  and  shouts. 
We  alighted  at  my  bride's  house,  where  we  partook  of  refresh- 
ments, and  received  the  congratulations  of  all  the  village  ;  and 
then,  when  all  was  prepared  for  our  return  toGavmishlu,  where 
my  uncle  was  to  perform  the  ceremony,  wo  mounted  again.    My 


190  THE    ADVENTURES    OF    HAJJI    BABA. 

bricle,  covered  by  a  crimsoa  veil  from  head  to  foot,  whidi  flowed 
over  a  flat  platter  placed  on  her  crown,  was  mounted  on  her 
father's  steed,  led  on  either  side  by  her  brothers.  It  is  the 
custom  for  the  bridegroom  to  hold  a  sash  or  girdle  by  his  right 
hand,  which  is  held  at  the  other  end  by  the  bride  on  their  way 
to  the  church,  and  this  we  did.  All  our  friends,  our  relations, 
all  the  youth  of  the  villages,  some  on  foot,  some  on  asses, 
others  on  horses,  accompanied  the  procession,  making  shouts, 
and  manifesting  their  joy  by  all  sorts  of  games  and  jokes  during 
the  whole  course  of  the  march.  When  at  length  we  had  reached 
a  small  rising  ground  overlooking  my  village  the  procession 
stopped,  and  every  one  who  had  a  part  to  act  in  the  ceremony 
received  a  taper,  which  was  forthwith  lighted.  The  procession 
then  moved  on  with  slow  and  measured  steps,  headed  by  my 
uncle,  who,  assisted  by  my  other  uncle  from  the  Three  Churches, 
sang  psalms  as  they  walked  forward,  amidst  all  the  noise  of  the 
surrounding  lookers  on.  The  Russian  captain  had  had  the  at- 
tention to  dress  his  men  up  on  the  occasion,  and  they  marched 
to  the  church  with  us,  adding  much  to  the  dignity  of  the  scene. 

"  We  at  length  alighted  at  the  door  of  the  church,  and  still 
holding  each  end  of  the  girdle,  my  bride  and  I  walked  to  the 
foot  of  the  altar,  which,  notwithstanding  our  humble  condition, 
had  been  ornamented  with  more  than  ordinary  brilliancy  by 
flowers,  ribands,  and  looking-glasses.  My  forehead  was  then 
placed  against  Mariam's  in  a  sort  of  butting  attitude,  and  the 
Bible  opened  and  laid  upon  our  heads,  whilst  her  hand  was 
given  into  mine.  The  priest  then  asked,  if  we  agreed  to  take 
each  other  for  husband  and  wife  ;  and  after  we  had  made  an 
inclination  of  our  heads  as  marking  our  consent,  and  a  suitable 
proportion  of  prayers  had  been  read  and  chanted,  the  ceremony 
was  at  an  end,  and  notified  to  all  the  world  by  the  shouts  of  the 
multitude,  and  by  the  redoubled  sounds  of  our  drums,  flutes, 
and  tambours. 

"  Daylight  by  this  time  had  entirely  disappeared,  and  the 
weather,  which  had  threatened  a  storm,  now  became  very  low- 
ering. The  sky  was  darkened,  rain  fell,  and  distant  thunders 
were  heard.  This  circumstance  put  an  end  to  the  entertainment 
given  by  my  father  earlier  than  it  otherwise  would  have  done ; 
and  when  our  guests  had  retired,  the  hour  at  length  arrived 
which  was  to  make  me  the  happiest  of  men. 

"  Oh,  shall  I  stop  here  to  recollect  all  the  horrors  of  that 
night — or  shall  pass  on,  and  not  distress  you  by  relating  them  ? 
You  must  conceive  my  bride  lovely  as  the  morning  star,  inno- 
cent as  an  angel,  and  attached  to  me  by  the  purest  love  ;  and 
you  may  imagine  what  I  felt  at  that  moment — I  who  had  looked 


THE    HISTORY    OF    VUSUF    AND    HIS    WIFE    MARIAM.  19T 

upon  my  union  as  impossible,  and  had  thought  of  my  awaiting 
happiness  as  a  bright  spot  in  my  existence,  to  which  I  expected 
never  to  attain. 

"  But  in  order  to  give  a  right  impression  of  the  scene  which 
I  am  about  to  describe,  you  must  know  that  the  villages  in 
Georgia,  and  in  our  part  of  Armenia,  are  built  pa:rtly  under 
ground,  and  thus  a  stranger  finds  himself  walking  on  the  roof 
of  a  house,  when  he  thinks  that  he  is  on  plain  ground,  the 
greatest  part  of  them  being  lighted  by  apertures  at  the  top. 
Such  was  the  house  in  which  my  family  lived,  and  in  which  ray 
wedding  was  celebrated.  My  nuptial  chamber  had  one  of  these 
apertures,  which  had  been  closed  on  the  occasion,  and  was  sit- 
uated with  its  door  leading  at  once  into  the  open  air.  " 

"  It  is  the  custom  among  the  Armenians  for  the  bridegroom 
to  retire  first.  His  shoes  and  stockings  are  then  taken  off  by 
his  wife,  who,  before  she  resigns  her  veil,  has  the  task  of  extin- 
guishing the  light.  The  storm  had  just  broke, — thunders  were 
rolling  over  our  heads, — the  lightning  flashed, — torrents  of  rain 
were  pouring  down  with  fearful  noise, — there  seemed  to  be  a 
general  commotion  of  the  elements,  when  my  Mariam,  unveiling 
herself,  extinguished  the  lamp.  She  had  scarcely  laid  herself 
down,  when  we  heard  an  unusual  violent  noise  at  the  aperture 
in  the  ceiling;  sounds  of  men's  voices  were  mingled  with  the 
crash  of  the  thunder ;  trampling  of  horses  was  also  distinctly 
heard  ;  and  presently  we  were  alarmed  by  a  heavy  noise  of  some- 
thing having  fallen  in  our  room  and  near  our  bed,  accompanied 
by  a  glare  and  a  smell  of  sulphur. 

"  '  'Tis  a  thunderbolt,  by  all  that  is  sacred  !  Oh  heaven  protect 
us  !'  cried  I.     '  Fly,  my  soul,  my  wife,  escape  !' 

"  She  had  just  time  to  snatch  up  her  veil,  and  to  get  without 
the  door,  when  an  explosion  took  place  in  the  veiy  room,  so 
awful,  so  tremendous,  that  I  immediately  thought  myself  trans- 
ported to  the  regions  of  the  damned.  I  fell  senseless,  amidst 
the  wreck  of  falling  stones,  plaster,  and  furniture.  All  I  can 
recollect  is,  that  an  immense  blaze  of  liglit  was  succeeded  by  an 
overpowering  sulphureous  smell, — then  a  dead  silence. 

"  I  lay  there  for  some  time,  unconscious  of  what  was  passing  ; 
but  by  degrees  came  to  myself,  and  when  I  found  that  1  could 
move  my  limbs,  and  that  nothing  about  my  person  was  mate- 
rially hurt,  I  began  to  consider  how  1  had  got  there.  As  for 
my  wedding,  that  appeared  to  me  a  dream  :  all  I  heard  about  me 
now  was  the  firing  of  muskets,  loud  and  frequent  explosions, 
cries  and  shouts  of  men, — of  men  wounded  and  in  pain, — of  men 
attacking  and  putting  others  to  death, — the  tramplings  of  horses, 
the  clashing  of  arms.     '  What,  in  the  name  of  Heaven,  can  all 


198  THE  ADVEXTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

this  be  ?'  said  I.  I  still  thought  myself  transported  into  an- 
other planet,  when  the  shriek  of  a  woman  struck  my  ear.  '  It 
is  Mariam  !  It  is  she,  by  all  that  is  sacred  !  Where,  where,  shall 
I  seek  her  ?'  I  was  roused :  I  disencumbered  myself  of  the 
weight  of  rubbish  that  had  fallen  upon  me,  and,  once  upon  my 
legs  again,  I  sallied  forth  in  search  of  her.  The  scene  which 
presented  itself  was  more  terrible  than  language  can  express  ; 
for  the  first  object  which  struck  my  sight  was  a  Persian  rushing 
by  me,  with  a  drawn  sword  in  one  hand,  and  a  human  head, 
dripping  with  blood,  in  another.  The  blackness  of  the  night 
was  lighted  up  at  rapid  intervals  by  vivid  flashes  of  lightning, 
which,  quick  as  the  eye  could  glance,  now  discovered  the  hideous 
tragedy  that  was  then  acting,  and  now  threw  it  again  into  dark- 
ness, leaving  the  imagination  to  fill  up  the  rest.  By  one  flash  I 
saw  Persians,  with  uplifted  swords,  attacking  defenceless  Rus- 
sians, rushing  from  their  beds  :  by  another,  the  poor  villagers 
were  discovered  flying  from  their  smoking  cottages  in  utter  dis- 
may Then  an  immense  explosion  took  place,  which  shook 
everything  around.  The  village  cattle,  loosened  from  their 
confinements,  ran  about  in  wild  confusion,  and  mixed  themselves 
with  the  horrors  of  the  night ;  in  short,  my  words  fall  short  of 
any  description  that  could  be  made  of  this  awful  scene  of  devas- 
tation ;  and  I  must  bless  the  mercy  of  that  Almighty  hand  which 
hath  spared  me  in  the  destruction  that  surrounded  me. 

"  I  knew  not  where  to  turn  myself  to  seek  for  my  wife.  I 
had  heard  her  shrieks ;  and  the  shivering  of  despair  came  over 
me,  when  I  thought  it  might  have  been  her  death  groans  which 
had  struck  my  ear.  I  threw  myself  into  the  midst  of  the  car- 
nage, and,  armed  with  a  firebrand,  snatched  from  my  burning 
nuptial  chamber,  I  made  my  way  through  the  combatants, 
more  like  a  maniac  at  the  height  of  his  frenzy,  than  a  bride- 
groom on  his  wedding-night.  Getting  into  the  skirts  of  the 
village  again,  I  thought  I  heard  the  shrieks  of  my  beloved.  I 
ran  towards  the  direction,  and  a  flash  of  lightning,  that  glanced 
over  the  adjoining  hill,  showed  me  two  horsemen  making  off 
with  a  woman,  whose  white  veil  was  conspicuously  seen,  mounted 
behind  one  of  them.  Heedless  of  everything  but  my  wife,  I 
followed  them  with  the  swiftness  of  a  mountain  goat;  but  as  the 
storm  subsided ;  the  lightning  flashed  no  more,  and  I  was  left 
in  utter  darkness  at  the  top  of  a  hill,  not  knowing  which  path 
to  take,  and  whether  to  proceed  or  not.  I  was  almost  naked. 
I  had  been  severely  bruised.  My  feet,  otherwise  accustomed 
to  the  naked  ground,  had  become  quite  lacerated  by  the  pur- 
suit I  had  undertaken ;  and  altogether,  I  was  so  worn  with 
grief,  so  broken-hearted,  that  I  laid  myself  down  on  the  wet 


THE    HISTORY    OF    YUSFF    AND    HIS    WIFE    MAKIAM.  199 

earth  in  a  state  of  desperation  that  was  succeeded  by  a  torpor 
of  all  my  senses.  Here  I  lay  until  the  first  raj^s  of  the  morning 
glared  in  my  eyes,  and  brought  me  gradually  to  a  sense  of  my 
situation. 

"  'What  has  happened  ?'  said  I ;  'Where  am  I  ?  How  came 
I  here  ?  Either  the  demons  and  wicked  angels  of  another 
world  have  been  at  work  this  night,  or  else  I  am  most  grossly 
abused.  To  see  that  glorious  orb  rising  in  that  clear  unclouded 
sky ;  to  mark  the  soothing  serenity  of  nature,  the  morning  fresh- 
ness, the  song  of  the  birds,  the  lowing  of  yon  cattle,  and  the 
quiet  and  seclusion  of  my  yonder  paternal  village,  I  ought  to 
suppose  that  the  images  of  horror,  of  indescribable  horror,  now 
floating  in  my  mind,  must  be  those  of  a  diseased  imagination. 
Is  it  possible  that  in  this  secluded  spot,  under  this  lovely  sky, 
in  the  midst  of  these  bounteous  gifts  of  nature,  I  could  have 
seen  man  murdering  his  fellow  creature,  the  blazing  cottage, 
the  mangled  corse,  the  bleeding  head; — and,  O  cruel,  O  kill- 
ing thought,  that  I  should  have  been  bereft  of  my  dear,  my 
innocent  wife?'  and  then,  then  only,  was  I  restored  to  a  full 
possession  of  every  occurrence  that  had  taken  place ;  and  tears, 
which  before  had  refused  to  flow,  now  came  to  my  assistance, 
and  relieved  my  burning  temples  and  my  almost  suffocating 
bosom.  I  got  up,  and  walked  slowly  to  the  village.  All  was 
hushed  into  quiet;  a  slight  smoke  was  here  and  there  to  be 
seen  ;  stray  cattle  were  grazing  on  the  outskirts ;  strangers  on 
horseback  seemed  to  be  busily  employed  in  preparations  of 
some  kind  or  other,  and  the  wretched  peasantry  were  seen  hud- 
dled together  in  groups,  scarcely  awake  from  the  suddenness 
of  the  destruction  which  had  visited  them,  and  uncertain  of  the 
fate  which  might  still  be  in  reserve.  As  for  me,  the  loss  which 
I  had  already  sustained  made  me  expect  every  other  attendant 
misfortune.  I  had  made  my  mind  up  to  find  my  relations 
dead,  to  see  the  total  ruin  of  our  house,  and  to  know  that  I  was 
a  solitary  outcast  on  the  face  of  the  world,  without  a  wife,  with- 
out a  home,  without  parents,  without  a  friend.  Bnt  no,  imagina- 
tion had  worked  up  the  picture  too  higlily ;  for  one  of  the  first 
persons  I  met  on  entering  our  village  was  my  ])Oor  mother,  who, 
when  she  saw  me,  recollecting  all  the  trouble  she  had  been  at  to 
secure  my  happiness,  fell  on  my  neck,  and  shed  a  torrent  of 
tears.  When  her  first  grief  had  subsided,  she  told  me  that  my 
father  had  suffered  mucli  from  bruises,  and  from  a  blow  received 
on  the  head ;  but  that  the  rest  of  the  family  were  well ;  that  our 
house  had  been  considerably  injured,  many  of  our  things  pillaged  ; 
and  that  my  nuptial  room,  in  p/articuhir,  had  been  almost  totally 
destroyed.     She  informed   me  that  the  good  Russian  captain 


200  THE    ADVENTURKS    OF    HA.TJI    BABA. 

had  been  the  first  to  fall  a  sacrifice  to  the  attack  of  the  Persians; 
for  almost  immediately  after  the  explosion  in  my  room,  he  had 
rushed  out  to  see  what  had  happened,  when  two  Persians  seized 
him,  one  of  whom  at  once  decapitated  him  :  this  was  the  head 
that  I  saw  brandished  before  me,  when  first  I  sallied  forth.  She 
then  took  me  to  a  place  of  shelter,  and  put  on  me  what  clothes 
could  be  found. 

"The  Persians,  having  completed  their  deeds  of  horror,  had 
retired  from  the  scene  of  action,  leaving  to  our  unfortunate 
villagers  the  melancholy  task  of  burying  the  dead  bodies  of 
thirty  wretched  Russians,  who  had  fallen  victims  to  their  treach- 
erous attack,  and  whose  heads  they  had  carried  off  with  them 
as  trophies. 

"After  I  had  visited  my  father,  and  left  my  home  in  as  comfort- 
able a  situation  as  I  could,  under  the  existing  circumstances,  I 
determined  instantly  to  set  out  in  pursuit  of  ray  wife.  It  was 
evident  that  she  had  been  carried  away  by  some  of  those  who 
had  attacked  our  village,  and  that  she  must  have  been  taken  to 
Erivan,  as  the  nearest  market  for  slaves,  for  such  was  no  doubt 
the  purpose  for  which  she  had  been  seized.  My  sword,  pistols, 
and  gun,  which  had  formed  part  of  the  ornamental  furniture 
of  my  bridal  chamber,  were  found  buried  in  its  ruins,  and  with 
these  for  my  protection,  and  with  some  pieces  of  silver  in  my 
purse,  I  bid  adieu  to  Gavmishlu,  making  a  vow  never  to  return 
until  I  had  found  my  Mariam. 

"I  traveled  with  hurried  steps,  taking  the  shortest  cnts  over 
the  mountains  to  Erivan,  and  as  I  crossed  a  branch  of  the  high 
road  I  met  two  horsemen,  well  mounted  and  equipped,  who 
stopped  me,  and  asked  whither  I  was  going,  and  upon  what 
errand. 

"  I  did  not  hesitate  to  tell  them  my  wretched  tale,  hoping 
they  might  give  me  some  hint  which  might  throw  light  upon 
the  fate  of  my  wife.  This  tliey  did  indeed,  but  in  a  manner  so 
cruel,  that  their  words  awakened  the  most  horrid  suspicions, 
and  almost  to  a  certainty  convinced  me  that  my  poor  innocent, 
my  hitherto  unspotted,  though  wedded  wife,  had  fallen  into  the 
power  of  a  most  licentious  tyrant. 

"'Is  it  possible,'  said  I,  when  they  had  related  to  me  the 
horrid  expedients  to  which  their  chief,  the  Serdar,  (for  it  was 
to  two  of  his  body-guard  that  I  was  talking,)  had  recourse,  for 
the  accomplishment  of  his  wickedness — 'is  it  possible  that 
selfishness  can  be  carried  to  such  an  extreme,  that  vice  can  have 
reached  to  such  a  pitch  in  the  heart  of  man?  Women,  by 
you  Mussulmans,  I  know  are  treated  as  mere  accessories  to 
pleasure ;  but,  after  all,  they  are  God's  creatures,  not  made  for 


THE    HISTORY    OF    YUSUF    AND    HIS    WIFE    MARIAM.  201 

the  ScTcIar  alone,  as  lie  seems  to  tliink,  but  given  to  us  to  be 
our  help,  our  comfort,  and  our  companions  through  life." 

"My  hearers  only  laughed  at  my  sentiments,  and  tauntingly 
assured  me,  that,  if  I  was  seeking  one  who  had  got  into  the  Scr- 
dar's  harem,  my  labor  would  be  in  vain,  and  that  I  might  just 
take  the  trouble  to  return  whence  I  came. 

"  Little  heeding  what  they  said,  1  hastened  my  steps,  without 
knowing  why  or  wherefore  ;  but  impelled  by  a  sort  of  feeling, 
that  it  could  not  be  in  the  wisdom  of  the  Almighty  to  heap  such 
a  load  of  misfortune  upon  a  wretched  sinner  like  me,  without  at 
length  giving  some  counter-balancing  reward,  or  some  consola- 
tion which  I  knew  it  to  be  in  his  power  to  bestow. 

"I  was  now  near  the  camp  at  Aberan,  where  I  knew  the 
Serdar  in  person  was  settled,  and,  hoping  to  hear  some  favorable 
intelligence,  I  made  towards  it.  It  was  greatly  agitated  by  the 
arrival  of  the  detachment  of  Persians  who  had  attacked  our 
village,  and  were  giving  proofs  of  the  success  of  their  enterprise, 
by  exhibiting  the  Russian  heads  which  they  had  brought  away, 
and  which  were  laid  in  several  heaps  before  the  tent  of  the  chief. 
One  might  have  supposed  that  a  great  and  signal  victory  had  been 
achieved,  such  were  the  rejoicings  and  boastings  that  took  place 
at  the  sight.  The  horrid  oi)jects  were  forthwith  salted,  and  sent 
off  in  great  parade  and  ceremony  to  the  Shah  of  Persia,  who  never 
will  believe  that  a  victory  is  gained  until  he  sees  these  palpable 
proofs  of  it.  However,  in  the  midst  of  all  this  joy,  a  courier 
was  seen  arriving  in  great  haste  from  the  Russian  frontier, 
whose  intelligence  produced  a  change  of  scene.  He  announced 
that  the  Russian  army,  having  heard  of  the  late  attack  upon 
their  outpost  at  Gavmishlu,  was  now  in  full  march  against  the 
Serdar,  and  coming  on  so  rapidly,  that  he  must  expect  to  be 
attacked  even  before  night  close.  The  scene  that  ensued  defies 
all  description.  The  whole  camp  was  ordered  to  be  struck,  and 
an  immediate  retreat  was  commanded.  Tents  falling,  mules 
loading,  men  screaming  ;  horses,  camels,  men,  cannon,  all  were 
in  motion  at  one  time  ;  and  before  two  hours  had  elapsed,  the 
whole  had  disappeared,  and  the  army  was  on  its  march  for 
Erivan. 

"  I  had  in  the  meanwhile  received  no  account  of  my  lost 
Mariam ;  and  it  was  plain  that,  if  in  the  power  of  the  Serdar, 
she  was  within  the  walls  of  his  seraglio  at  Erivan.  Thither 
then  I  bent  my  steps,  hoping  that  in  this  great  confusion  some- 
thing might  turn  up  for  my  advantage. 

"  Upon  my  arrival  there,  I  posted  myself  at  the  bridge  over 
the  Zengui,  from  whence  I  had  a  full  survey  of  that  part  of  the 
Serdar's  palace  which  contains  his  women ;  and  as  the  troops 


202  THE    ADVENTURES    OF    HAJJI    BABA. 

were  crossing  it  at  the  same  time  in  constant  succession,  I  was 
unnoticed,  and  passed  for  one  of  the  cainp-followers.  The 
building  is  situated,  upon  the  brinli  of  a  precipice  of  darlv 
rock,  at  the  foot  of  which  flows  the  Zengui,  a  clear  and  rapid 
stream,  foaming  through  a  rocky  bed,  the  stony  projections  of 
which  form  white  eddies,  and  increase  the  rush  of  its  waters. 
A  bridge  of  three  arches  is  thrown  over  it  just  at  the  foot  of 
the  precipice,  and  forms  part  of  the  high  road  to  Georgia  and 
Turkey.  The  principal  saloon  of  the  palace,  in  a  corner  of 
which  the  Serdar  is  usually  seated,  opens  with  a  large  case- 
ment on  the  river,  and  overlooks  the  precipice.  At  some  dis- 
tance on  the  same  surface  of  building  are  the  windows  of  the 
women's  apartments,  distinguished  by  their  lattices,  and  by 
other  contrivances  of  jealousy.  However,  I  observed  they 
were  not  so  well  secured,  but  that  objects  passing  and  repassing 
the  bridge  might  well  be  seen  from  them ;  and  I  imagined  that 
if  Mariam  was  a  prisoner  there,  she  might  perchance  make  me 
out  as  I  stood  below.  '  But  if  she  dicl,  what  then  ?'  said  I  to 
myself  in  despair  :  '  seeing  me  there  would  only  add  to  her  tor- 
ture, and  to  ray  desperation.'  To  escape  from  such  a  height 
appeared  impossible,  for  a  fall  would  be  instant  death ;  and  ex- 
cepting a  willow  tree,  which  grew  out  of  the  rock  immediately 
under  one  of  the  windows,  there  was  nothing  to  break  the  de- 
scent. However,  having  remained  in  one  spot  so  long  in 
meditation,  I  feared  to  be  observed ;  and  left  my  post  for  the 
present,  determining  to  return  to  it  at  the  close  of  day,  and 
indeed  at  every  hour  when  I  could  appear  without  suspicion. 

"  I  had  been  watching  the  windows  of  the  seraglio  in  this 
manner  for  more  than  a  fortnight,  and  had  not  ceased  to  parade 
up  and  down  the  bridge  at  least  three  times  every  day,  when 
one  evening,  as  the  day  was  about  to  close,  I  saw  the  lattice  of 
the  window  over  the  willow  tree  open,  and  a  female  looking 
out  of  it.  I  watched  her  with  breathless  suspense.  She  ap- 
peared to  recognize  me.  I  extended  my  hand  ;  she  stretched 
forth  hers.  'It  is  she!'  said  I:  'yes,  it  must  be  her!  It  is 
my  Mariam !'  Upon  which,  without  a  moment's  hesitation, 
without  thinking  of  the  consequences,  I  plunged  into  the  river, 
and,  having  waded  through  it,  stood  at  the  foot  of  the  precipice 
immediately  under  my  beloved  wife.  She  stretched  her  arms 
several  times  towards  me,  as  if  she  would  have  thrown  herself 
out.  I  almost  screamed  with  apprehension  ;  and  yet  the  hope 
of  pressing  her  to  my  heart  made  me  lialf  regret  that  she  had 
not  done  so.  We  stood  there  looking  wistfully  at  each  other, 
fearing  to  speak,  yet  longing  to  do  so.  At  length,  she  shut 
the  lattice  suddenly,  and  left  mo  in  that  attitude  and  in  all  the 


THE    HISTORY    OF    YUSUF    AND    HIS    WIFE    MARIAW.  203 

horrors  of  suspense.  I  kept  my  post  for  some  time  without 
seeing  anything  more  of  her,  when  again  suddenly  the  hittice 
opened,  and  she  appeared,  but  with  looks  that  spoke  intense  agi- 
tation. I  scarcely  could  tell  what  was  about  to  happen ,  but  waited 
in  dreadful  anxiety,  until  I  saw  her  lean  forward,  retreat,  lean 
forward  again — then  more  and  more,  until,  by  a  sudden  effort, 
I  beheld  her  fair  form  in  the  air,  falling  down  the  giddy  height. 
My  legs  refused  to  perform  their  office,  my  eyes  were  obscured 
by  a  swimming,  and  I  should  have  probably  sunk  under  the 
intenseness  of  my  feelings,  when  I  saw  her  half  suspended,  half 
falling  from  a  branch  of  the  willow  tree.  I  bounded  up,  and 
in  an  instant  had  mounted  the  tree,  and  had  clasped  her  sense- 
less in  my  arms.  I  seemed  to  be  impelled  by  new  vigor  and 
strength ;  to  reach  the  ground,  to  recross  the  river,  to  fly  with 
my  precious  burthen  from  the  inhabited  outskirts  into  the  open 
country,  appeared  but  the  business  of  a  second.  I  was  per- 
fectly drunk  with  the  thousand  feelings  which  agitated  me  ;  and 
although  I  acted  like  one  bereft  of  his  senses,  yet  everything  I 
did  was  precisely  that  which  I  ought  to  have  done.  Nature 
guided  me :  the  animal  acting  only  from  instinct  would  have 
done  like  me.  I  had  saved  that  which  was  most  precious  to 
me  in  this  world. 

"When  I  had  worn  out  my  first  efforts  of  strength,  and  had 
felt  that  my  hitherto  senseless  burthen  showed  some  symptoms 
of  life,  I  stopped,  and  placed  her  quietly  on  the  ground  behind 
some  broken  walls.  She  was  terribly  bruised,  although  no  bone 
had  been  broken.  The  branches  of  the  tree,  upon  which  she 
had  alighted,  had  wounded  her  deeply  in  several  places,  and 
the  blood  had  flown  very  copiously.  But  she  was  alive  ;  she  ■ 
breathed ;  she  opened  her  eyes,  and  at  length  pronounced  my 
name.  I  was  almost  crazy  with  joy,  and  embraced  her  with  a 
fervor  that  amounted  to  madness.  When  she  had  reposed  her- 
self a  little,  I  snatched  her  up  again,  and  proceeded  onwards 
with  all  the  haste  imaginable,  in  the  determination  to  strike  at 
once  into  the  mountains  ;  but  recollecting  that  I  had  the  river 
of  Ashtarek  to  cross,  and  that  with  her  in  my  arms  it  would  be 
impossible  to  do  so  except  by  the  bridge,  I  at  once  directed 
my  steps  thither. 

"  We  were  reposing  at  the  foot  of  the  bridge,  when  I  heard 
the  footsteps  of  your  horses.  Although  nearly  exhausted  with 
my  previous  exertions,  I  still  had  strength  enough  left  to 
clamber  up  the  bank,  and  take  refuge  in  the  ruined  church, 
where  you  first  discovered  us ;  and  there  I  watched  your  mo- 
tions with  the  greatest  anxiety,  concluding  that  you  were  a 
party  sent  in  pursuit  of  us  by  the   Serdar.     Need  I  say  after 


204  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

this,  that  if  you  will  protect  us,  and  permit  us  to  seek  our 
home,  you  will  receive  the  overflowing  gratitude  of  two  thank- 
ful hearts,  and  the  blessings  of  many  now  wretched  people,  who 
by  our  return  will  be  made  supremely  happy  ?  Whoever  you 
are,  upon  whatever  errand  you  may  he  sent,  you  cannot  have 
lost  the  feelings  of  a  man.  God  will  repay  your  kindness  a 
thousand  times ;  and  although  we  are  are  not  of  your  faith  and 
nation,  still  we  have  prayers  to  put  up  at  the  throne  of  grace, 
which  must  be  received  when  they  are  employed  in  so  good  a 
cause." 


CHAPTER  XXXVIII. 

SEQUEL    OF    THE    FOREGOING    HISTORY. 

The  Armenian  youth  here  finished  his  narrative,  and  left  me 
in  astonishment  and  admiration,  at  all  he  had  related.  With  my 
permission  he  then  quitted  me  to  visit  his  wife,  and  promised 
to  return  immediately  with  the  report  of  her  present  state,  and 
how  she  felt  after  her  repose. 

"  '  He  surely  cannot  have  been  inventing  lies  to  ray  face  all 
this  time,'  said  I  when  left  to  myself,  'for  a  bleeding  woman 
is  here  in  evidence  to  corroborate  what  he  has  advanced ; 
but  then  should  I  permit  him  to  proceed,  and  the  Serdar  was 
to  hear  that  I  had  done  so,  what  would  become  of  me  ?  I 
should  certainly  lose  my  place,  and  perhaps  my  ears.  No  ; 
compassion  does  not  suit  me ;  for  if  it  did,  I  ought  not  to 
remain  a  Nasakchi.  I  will  stick  to  what  the  sage  Locman,  I 
believe,  once  said  on  this  occasion,  which  runs  something  to 
this  purpose  : — '  If  you  are  a  tiger,  be  one  altogether;  for  then 
the  other  beasts  will  know  what  to  trust  to :  but  if  you  wear  a 
tiger's  skin,  and  long  ears  are  discovered  to  be  concealed 
therein,  they  will  then  treat  you  even  worse  than  if  you  walked 
about  in  your  own  true  character,  an  undisguised  ass.'" 

"  I  kept  turning  over  in  my  mind  whether  I  should  release 
him  or  not ;  and  was  fluctuating  in  great  perplexity  between 
the  ass  and  the  tiger,  when  Yusuf  returned.  He  told  me  that 
his  Mariam  was  considerably  refreshed  by  repose  ;  but,  weak 
from  loss  of  blood,  and  stifl"  by  the  violence  of  the  contusions 
which  she  had  received,  (in  particular,  one  upon  her  leg,  which 
was  of  consequence,)  it  would  be  impossible  for  her  to  move  for 
several  days ;  '  except,  ineeed,  we  were  pursued  by  the  Serdar,' 


SKQUEL    OF    THE    FOREGOING    HISTOKY.  205 

added  he,  'when  I  believe  nothing  bnt  force  could  hinder  us 
from  proceeding.'  He  said  that  not  until  now  she  had  had 
strength  enough  to  tell  him  her  own  adventures  from  the  time 
she  left  him  at  Gavmishlu." 

It  appears,  that  the  instant  she  had  darted  from  the  nuptial 
chamber,  only  covered  by  her  veil,  she  had  been  seized  by  a 
Persian,  who,  discovering  by  the  glare  of  the  lightning,  that 
she  was  young  and  handsome,  ran  off  with  her  to  some  dis- 
tance, and  there  detained  her,  until,  with  the  assistance  of 
another,  she  was  mounted  on  a  horse,  and  talcen  forcibly  away ; 
that  these  two  men  carried  her  straight  to  the  camp  at  Abe- 
ran,  and  offered  her  for  sale  to  the  Serdar;  who,  having  agreed 
to  take  her,  ordered  her  to  be  conducted  to  his  seraglio  at 
Erivan,  and  there  put  into  service  :  that  the  horrid  plight  in 
which  she  stood  when  exhibited  to  the  Serdar,  her  disfigured 
looks,  and  her  weak  and  drooping  state,  made  her  hope  that 
she  would  remain  unnoticed  and  neglected ;  particularly  when 
she  heard  what  was  his  character,  and  to  what  extent  he  car- 
ried his  cruelties  on  the  unfortunate  victims  of  his  selfishness, 
Mariam,  alluding  to  herself,  then  said  ;  "  Hoping,  by  always 
talking  of  myself  as  a  married  woman,  that  I  should  meet  with 
more  respect  in  the  house  of  a  Mussulman,  than  if  I  were  other- 
wise ;  I  never  lost  an  opportunity  of  putting  my  husband's 
name  forward,  and  this  succeeded — for  little  or  no  notice  was 
taken  of  me,  and  I  was  confounded  with  the  other  slaves,  and 
performed  the  different  tasks  of  servitude  which  were  set  me. 
But,  unfortunately,  I  did  not  long  keep  my  own  counsel ;  I  con- 
fided my  story  to  a  Persian  woman,  who  pretended  to  be  my 
friend  ;  hoping  by  that  means  to  soften  her  heart  so  much  as  to 
induce  her  to  help  me  in  regaining  my  freedom  ;  but  she  proved 
treacherous ;  she  made  a  merit  of  relating  it  to  the  Serdar,  who 
immediately  forced  me  to  confirm  her  words  with  my  own  lips, 
and  then  the  extent  of  my  imprudence  became  manifest.  He 
announced  his  intention  to  avail  himself  of  my  situation,  and 
ordered  me  to  prepare  for  receiving  him.  Conceive,  then, 
what  were  the  horrors  of  my  position.  I  turned  over  in  my 
mind  evei*y  means  of  escape,  but  all  avenues  to  it  were  shut. 
I  had  never  before  thought  of  looking  over  the  precipice  upon 
which  the  windows  of  our  prison  opened  ;  but  now  I  seriously 
thought  of  precipitating  myself,  rather  than  submit  to  the 
tyrant.  But  a  few  hours  after  I  had  had  the  blessing  to  dis- 
cover you  on  the  bridge,  I  had  been  ordered  to  hold  myself  in 
readiness  to  receive  him  ;  and  it  was  then  that  I  had  positively 
determined  in  my  own  mind  to  throw  myself  headlong  out, 
either  once  move  to  be  joined  to  you,  or  to  die  in  the  attempt. 
18 


206  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

When  I  shut  the  lattices  in  haste,  several  women  had  just  come 
into  the  room  to  conduct  me  to  the  hot  bath  previously  to 
being  dressed ;  and  when  I  had  made  some  excuse  for  delaying 
it,  and  had  sent  them  out  of  the  room,  it  was  then  that  I 
opened  the  lattice  a  second  time,  and  put  ray  resolution  into 
practice." 

Yusuf  having  finished  the  recital  of  his  and  his  wife's  adven- 
tures, was  very  anxious  to  know  what  part  I  would  take,  and 
earnestly  entreated  me  to  befriend  him  by  my  advice  and  as- 
sistance. 

The  morning  was  far  spent.  My  men  were  already  mounted, 
and  ready  to  proceed  on  our  reconnoitering  expedition, -and  my 
horse  was  waiting  for  me,  when  a  thought  struck  me,  which 
would  settle  every  difficulty  with  regard  to  the  young  Armenian 
and  his  wife. 

I  called  him  to  me  and  said,  "After  what  you  have  related, 
it  will  be  impossible  to  leave  you  at  liberty.  You  have,  by 
your  own  account,  run  off  with  a  woman  from  the  Serdar's 
seraglio,  a  ■  crime  which  you  perhaps  do  not  know,  in  a 
Mussulman  country,  is  punished  with  death,  so  sacred  is  the 
harem  held  in  our  estimation.  If  I  were  to  act  right,  I  ought 
not  to  lose  a  moment  in  sending  you  both  back  to  Erivan  ;  but 
that  I  will  not  do,  provided  you  agree  to  join  us  in  our  present 
expedition,  and  to  serve  us  as  guide  in  those  parts  of  the 
country  with  which  you  are  best  acquainted."  I  then  ex- 
plained to  him  the  nature  of  my  office,  and  what  was  the  object 
of  the  expedition. 

"If  you  are  zealous  in  our  cause,"  said  I,  "you  will  then 
have  performed  a  service  which  will  entitle  you  to  reward,  and 
thus  enable  me  to  speak  in  your  favor  to  the  Serdar  and  to  my 
chief,  and,  Insliallah!  please  God,  to  procure  your  release.  In 
the  jneanwhile,  your  wife  may  remain  here,  in  all  safety,  in  the 
bands  of  the  good  folks  of  this  village  ;  and  by  the  time  we 
return,  she  will,  I  hope,  have  been  restored  to  health." 

The  youth,  upon  hearing  this  language,  took  my  hand  and 
kissed  it,  agreed  to  everything  I  had  said,  and  having  girt  on 
his  arms,  he  was  ready  to  attend  us.  I  permitted  him  to  go  to 
his  wife,  to  give  her  an  account  of  this  arrangement,  and  to 
console  her,  with  proper  assurances,  that  they  would  soon  be 
restored  to  each  other.  He  again  thanked  me  ;  and,  with  the 
agility  of  an  antelope,  had  already  gained  the  summit  of  the 
first  hill  before  we  had  even  began  to  ascend  it. 


CHAPTER  XXXIX. 

HAJJI    BABa's    COXFIDEXCE    -WORTHILY    PLACED. 

We  proceeded  towards  the  Georgian  frontier,  shaping  our 
track  over  unfrequented  parts  of  the  mountains,  in  which  we 
wei*e  very  materially  assisted  by  Yusuf,  who  appeared  to  be 
acquainted  with  every  landmark,  and  who  knew  the  directions 
of  places  with  a  precision  that  quite  surprised  us.  lie  did  not 
seem  anxious  to  visit  his  own  village ;  and,  in  fact,  he  assured 
me,  that  had  he. even  permission  so  to  do,  he  could  not,  because 
he  felt  himself  bound  by  the  oath  which  he  had  taken  upon  last 
quitting  it,  not  to  return  except  accompanied  by  his  wife. 

The  intelligence  which  had  been  brought  to  the  Serdar  of 
the  advance  of  the  Muscovites  proved  false,  for  we  found  them 
posted  on  the  banks  of  the  Pembaki  River,  occupying  the  vil- 
lage of  Hamamlu,  and  fortifying  themselves  in  Karaklisseh. 
We  were  not  far  from  the  former  place  ;  and  as  we  approached 
it,  I  became  anxious  to  acquire  some  precise  intelligence  con- 
cerning the  numbers  and  the  dispositions  of  the  enemy.  A 
thought  struck  me,  as  I  pondered  over  the  fate  of  my  Armenian 
protege — "  I  will  either  save  this  youth  or  lose  him,"  thought 
I,  "and  never  was  there  a  better  opportunity  than  the  present. 
He  shall  go  to  Hamamlu  :  if  he  brings  me  the  intelligence  we 
want,  nothing  can  prevent  me  from  both  procuring  his  pardon 
and  his  wife  for  him — if  he  proves  a  traitor,  I  get  rid  of  him, 
and  demand  a  reward  from  the  Serdar,  for  restoring  his  fugi- 
tive slave." 

I  called  him  to  me,  and  proposed  the  undertaking.  Quicker 
than  thought,  he  seized  all  the  different  bearings  of  the  ques- 
tion, and  without  hesitation  accepted  of  my  proposal.  lie  girt 
himself  afresh,  he  tucked  the  skirts  of  his  coat  into  his  girdle, 
putting  his  cap  on  one  side,  and  slinging  his  long  gun  at  his 
back,  he  darted  down  the  mountain's  side,  and  we  very  soon 
lost  him  amid  the  sloping  woods. 

"  Ruft  he  rvft.  He  is  gone  and  doubly  gone,"  said  the  young 
delikhan ;  "  we  shall  ij^evcr  see  him  again." 

"And  why  should  he  not  return  ?"  said  I.  "  Have  we  not 
got  a  hostage  ?  Armenian  though  he  is,  he  will  not  leave  his 
wife." 

"Yes,"  said  the  youth,  "  he  is  an  Armenian ;  but  he  is  also 

(207) 


208  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

an  Isauvi,  (a  Christian.)  The  Russians  too  are  Isauvis  ;  and 
we  all  know,  that  when  these  infidels  get  together,  they  will 
rather  die  than  return  to  the  sons  of  Islam.  No ;  were  he  the 
chaste  Joseph  himself,  and  his  wife  Zuleikha  in  person,  I  will 
bet  this  horse,"  pointing  to  the  beast  under  him,  "  that  we  see 
him  op  more." 

"  Do  not  coin  false  words,  my  little  gentleman  !"  said  a  sturdy 
old  cavalier,  whose  sun-burnt  face  was  harrowed  by  a  thousand 
wrinkles,  and  shaded  by  a  shaggy  beard,  moustaches,  and  eye- 
brows— "  why,  without  any  use,  do  you  eat  dirt?  The  horse  is 
the  Shah's,  not  yours ;  and  do  you  pretend  to  make  the  buhs 
(bets)  upon  it  ?" 

"  The  Shah's  property  is  mine,  and  mine  is  my  own,"  retorted 
the  youth. 

I  and  my  party  kept  up  this  sort  of  desultory  talk  for  a  little 
while  before  we  thought  of  settling  ourselves,  when,  seeing  a 
spot  where  there  was  much  grass,  v/e  made  for  it,  and  dis- 
mounted from  our  horses.  We  dispersed  ourselves  here  and 
there,  each  making  a  temporary  establishment  of  horse-cloths 
and  cloaks  spread  upon  the  ground,  whilst  our  steeds,  picketed 
among  the  grass,  fed  at  pleasure.  I  announced  my  intention 
of  passing  the  night  here  in  case  Yusuf  did  not  appear  before 
its  close  ;  and  preparatory  to  this,  two  of  our  best  marauders 
set  off  in  quest  of  a  sheep,  fowls,  or  anything  they  could  get 
for  our  evening's  meal.  After  an  hour's  absence,  they  returned 
with  a  sheep  which  they  had  seized  from  a  flock  grazing  in  the 
neighborhood  of  the  river.  It  was  soon  killed,  and  preparations 
were  made  for  roasting  it.  Two  stakes  with  hooks  at  the  top 
were  cut  from  the  forest,  and  stuck  into  the  ground ;  then  a 
long  stick  was  passed  through  the  animal  in  lieu  of  a  spit, 
and  placed  on  the  hooks.  A  fire  having  been  lighted,  one  of 
our  men  was  stationed  near  it  to  turn  the  animal  at  intervals ; 
and  it  was  not  long  before  it  was  ready  for  eating.  By  way 
of  variety,  some  of  the  prime  bits,  with  the  fat  of  the  tail,  were 
cut  off,  spitted  upon  a  ramrod,  and  thus  roasted.  The  sheep 
was  served  up  on  its  stake,  and  our  party  fell  upon  it  with  an 
intense  appetite,  whilst,  by  way  of  distinction,  the  ramrod  was 
handed  over  to  me  for  my  share. 

By  this  time  the  day  had  entirely  closed  in,  and  Yusuf  had 
not  appeared.  We  then  composed  ourselves  to  sleep,  leaving 
one  or  two  to  keep  watch  and  to  attend  upon  the  horses.  About 
an  hour  after  midnight,  when  the  moon  was  about  going  down, 
a  distant  shout  was  heard — presently  a  second,  more  distinctly 
and  nearer  to  us.  We  were  immediately  upon  the  alert,  and 
the  shouts  being  repeated  we  could  no  longer  doubt  but  that 


HAJJI    BABa'S    confidence    WORTHILY    PLACED.  209 

the  Armenian  was  at  hand.  We  then  shouted  in  return,  and 
not  very  long  after  we  saw  him  appear.  He  was  almost  ex- 
hausted with  fatigue,  but  still  strong  enough  to  be  able  to  relate 
his  adventures  since  he  had  left  us. 

He  informed  me,  that  having  reached  Hamamlu,  he  was  recog- 
nized by  some  of  the  Russian  soldiers  who  had  escaped  the  attack 
of  the  Persians  upon  his  village,  and  who  immediately  intro- 
duced him  into  the  fort,  and  treated  him  very  kindly.  He  was 
taken  before  the  commanding  officer,  who  questioned  him  nar- 
rowly upon  the  object  of  his  visit;  but  the  ready  pretext  which 
he  advanced,  of  seeking  his  wife,  answered  every  difficulty ; 
besides  which,  the  ruin  of  his  village,  the  destruction  of  his 
family  property,  and  the  acquaintance  which  he  had  on  the  spot, 
furnished  him  with  so  much  matter  of  conversation,  that  no 
suspicion  of  his  designs  could  be  entertained.  He  was  then 
permitted  to  walk  about  the  fort,  and  by  asking  his  questions 
with  prudence,  and  making  his  own  observations,  was  enabled 
to  furnish  me  with  the  information  I  required  on  the  strength 
and  position  of  the  enemy,  with  some  very  good  conjectures  on 
the  nature  and  probability  of  their  future  operations.  He  then 
managed  to  slip  away  unperceived  before  the  gates  of  the  place 
were  closed,  and  regained  the  mountains  without  the  smallest 
impediment. 

Having  permitted  Yusuf  to  refresh  himself  with  food  and  rest, 
and  being  now  perfectly  satisfied  that  his  story  was  true,  and 
that  all  confidence  might  be  placed  in  his  integrity,  I  oi'dered 
my  party  to  hold  themselves  in  readiness  to  return  to  Erivan. 
He  was  permitted  to  ride  behind  either  of  the  horsemen  when 
tired  with  walking,  and  in  this  manner,  taking  the  shortest  cuts 
over  the  mountains,  we  regained  the  village  of  Ashtarek. 
Whilst  we  stopped  here  to  refresh  ourselves  and  horses,  and  to 
gain  intelligence  of  tlie  movements  of  the  Serdar  and  the  chief 
executioner,  I  permitted  the  youth  to  visit  his  wife.  He  re- 
turned beaming  with  joy,  for  he  had  found  her  almost  cured 
of  her  bruises,  and  full  of  thanks  for  the  kindness  and  hospi- 
tality with  which  she  had  been  treated. 

The    Serdar   and   the   chief   executioner   had   moved   from 
Erivan,  and  were  now  encamped  close  to  the  residence  of  the 
Armenian  patriarch ;  and  thither  we  bent  our  steps,  accom- 
panied bv  Yusuf. 
18* 


CHAPTER  XL. 

A    FAVORABLE   INTERVIEW    WITH    THE    SERDAR, 

The  monastery  of  Etchmiazin,  so  called  in  the  Armenian 
tongue,  or  Utch  Klisseh,  or  the  Three  Churches,  by  the  Turks 
and  Persians,  is  situated  in  a  large  and  well  cultivated  plain, 
watered  by  the  Araxes,  and  several  smaller  streams.  It  stands 
at  the  foot  of  the  high  mountain  of  Agri  Dagh,  which  the 
Christians,  and  in  j^articular  the  Armenians,  hold  in  great 
veneration,  because  (so  Yusuf  informed  me)  upon  its  con- 
spicuous snow-capt  summit  the  ark  of  Noah  rested.  The 
monastery  and  church,  celebrated  throughout  Asia  for  the  riches 
which  they  contain,  are  inclosed  within  high  walls,  and  secured 
by  strong  and  massive  gates.  It  is  here  that  the  head  of  the 
Armenian  church  constantly  resides,  together  with  a  large  re- 
tinue of  bishops,  priests,  and  deacons,  who  form  the  stock  which 
provides  clergy  for  most  of  the  Armenian  churches  in  Asia. 
The  title  by  which  he  is  known  in  Persia  is  khalifeh  or  caliph, 
a  designation  which,  comprising  the  head  of  the  civil  as  well  as 
the  religious  government,  the  Mussulmans  used  formally  to  be- 
stow on  the  sovereigns  who  held  their  sway  at  Bagdad.  By 
the  Christians  he  is  generally  known  by  the  name  of  patriarch, 
and  his  church  is  an  object  of  pilgrimage  for  the  Armenians, 
who  flock  there  at  particular  seasons  in  great  numbers  from 
different  parts  of  the  world. 

Hither  we  bent  our  steps.  We  discovered  the  united  camps 
of  the  Serdar  and  the  chief  executioner,  spreading  their  white 
tents  in  an  irregular  figure  all  round  the  monastery  ;  and  before 
we  had  reached  its  walls,  we  heard  that  the  two  chiefs  had 
taken  up  their  abode  witliin  it,  and  were  the  guests  of  the 
caliph. 

"  We'll  burn  the  fathers  of  these  giaours,'*''  (infidels,)  said  the 
young  delikhan,  as  he  rode  up  to  me  in  great  joy  at  this  intel- 
ligence ;  "  and  will  make  up  for  the  fatigues  we  have  under- 
gone, by  drinking  abundantly  of  their  wine." 

"  Are  you  a  Mussulman,"  said  I,  "  and  talk  of  drinking  wine  ? 
You  yourself  will  become  a  giaour." 

"  Oh,  as  for  that,"  answered  he,  "the  Serdar  drinks  wine  like 
any  Christian,  and  I  do  not  see  why  I  should  not." 

As  we  approached  the  monastery,  I  called  Yusuf  to  me,  and 
(210) 


A    FAVORABLE    INTERVIEW    WITH    THE    SERDAR.  211 

told  him  to  be  in  readiness  whenever  he  should  be  called  for, 
and  be  prepared  to  confirm  any  oath  that  I  might  think  it 
necessary  to  take  for  his  interests.  He  was  particularly  en- 
joined, when  he  came  to  talk  of  the  services  he  had  rendered, 
to  deviate  from  the  truth  as  much  as  he  chose,  to  set  forth 
every  sort  of  danger  he  had  or  had  not  incurred,  and  in  par- 
ticular to  score  up  an  account  of  sums  expended,  all  for  the  use 
and  advantage  of  the  Serdar  and  of  the  Shah's  government. 
"  I  hope  at  that  rate,"  said  I  to  him,  "your  accounts  may  be 
balanced,  by  having  your  wife  restored  to  you  ;  for  which,  after 
considerable  difBculty,  you  may  agree  to  give  a  receipt  iu  full 
of  all  demands." 

Thus  agreed,  we  passed  through  the  heavy  archway  which 
leads  into  the  first  court  of  the  monastery.  This  we  found 
encumbered  by  the  equipages  and  servants  of  the  Serdar  and 
the  chief  executioner.  Here  and  there  were  strings  of  horses, 
piqueted  by  ropes  and  pegs,  with  their  grooms  established  in 
diflerent  corners  among  their  saddles  and  horse  furniture  ;  and 
a  corner  was  taken  up  by  a  set  of  mules,  distinguished  by  the 
eternal  jingle  of  their  bells,  and  the  no  less  eternal  wranglings 
of  their  drivers. 

In  the  second  yard  were  the  horses  of  the  chief  servants,  who 
themselves  inhabited  small  rooms  that  surrounded  two  sides  of 
the  court. 

We  alighted  at  the  first  court,  and  I  immediately  inquired 
for  the  quarters  of  my  master,  the  chief  executioner.  It  was 
noon,  and  I  was  informed  he  was  then  with  the  Serdar,  before 
whom,  iu  all  the  boots,  dust,  and  dirt  of  my  traveling  caress,  I 
was  immediately  conducted. 

They  seemed  to  have  entirely  taken  possession  of  the  Ar- 
menian sanctuary,  and  to  have  dispossessed  the  Caliph  of  his 
place  and  authority ;  for  they  had  taken  up  their  abode  in  his 
very  rooms,  whilst  the  poor  priests  were  skulking  about  with 
humble  and  downcast  looks,  as  if  fearful  and  ashamed  of  being 
the  lawful  inhabitants  of  their  own  possessions;  The  favorite 
horses  of  both  the  Persian  chiefs  were  picketed  close  to  the 
very  walls  of  the  church,  more  care  being  taken  of  their  com- 
forts than  of  the  convenience  of  the  Armenians. 

My  reader  is  already  acquainted  with  the  person  and  cha- 
racter of  the  chief  executioner ;  and,  before  I  ])roceed  farther, 
I  must  also  make  him  acquainted  with  the  Serdar.  A  man  of 
a  more  sinister  aspect  was  never  seen.  His  eyes,  which,  in  the 
common  expression  of  his  countenance,  were  like  opaque  bits 
of  glass,  glared  terribly  whenever  he  became  animated,  and 
almost  started  out  of  their  old  shriveled  sockets  ;  and  when  this 


212  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

happened,  it  was  always  remarked  that  a  correspoBding  smile 
broke-  out  upon  his  mouth,  which  made  the  Shah's  poet  say, 
that  Hassan  Khan's  face  was  like  Agri  dagh,  the  mountain  near 
which  he  lived.  When  clouded  at  the  top,  and  the  sun  shone 
in  the  plain,  a  storm  was  sure  to  ensue.  Time  had  worn  two 
deep  wi'iukles  down  his  cheeks,  which  were  not  hid  by  a  scanty 
beard,  notwithstanding  all  the  pains  he  took  to  make  it  thick ; 
and  the  same  enemy  having  despoiled  him  of  all  his  teeth  save 
one,  which  projected  from  his  mouth,  had  produced  deep  cavi- 
ties, that  made  the  shaggy  hairs,  thinly  spread  over  them,  look 
like  burnt  stubble  on  the  slopes  of  a  valley.  Altogether,  it  was 
difficult  to  say  whether  the  goat  or  the  tiger  was  most  pre- 
dominant ;  but  this  is  most  certain,  that  never  was  the  human 
form  so  nearly  allied  to  that  of  the  brute  as  in  this  instance. 
His  character  corresponded  to  his  looks  ;  for  no  law,  human  or 
divine,  ever  stood  in  the  way  of  his  sensuality ;  and  when  his 
passions  were  roused,  he  put  no  bounds  to  his  violence  and 
cruelty.  But  with  all  this,  he  had  several  qualities,  which  at- 
tached his  followers  to  him.  He  was  liberal  and  enterprising. 
He  had  much  quickness  and  penetration,  and  acted  so  politically 
towards  the  Shah  and  his  government,  that  he  was  always 
treated  with  the  greatest  confidence  and  consideration.  He 
lived  in  princely  magnificence ;  was  remarkable  for  his  hos- 
pitality, and  making  no  mystery  of  his  irregularity  as  a  Mus- 
sulman ;  was  frank  and  open  in  his  demeanor,  affable  to  his 
inferiors,  and  the  very  best  companion  to  those  who  shared  in 
his  debaucheries.  No  bolder  drinker  of  wine  existed  in  Persia, 
except  perhaps  his  present  companion,  the  executioner,  who, 
as  long  as  he  could  indulge  without  incurring  the  Shah's  dis- 
pleasure, had  ratified  an  eternal  treaty  of  alliance  between  his 
mouth  and  every  skin  of  wine  that  came  within  his  reach. 

It  was  before  these  two  worshipful  personages  that  I  was  in- 
troduced, followed  by  two  or  three  of  my  principal  attendants. 
I  stood  at  the  end  of  the  apartment  until  I  was  spoken  to. 

"  You  are  welcome,"  said  the  chief  executioner.  "  Hajji,  by 
my  soul,  tell  me,  how  many  Russians  have  you  killed  ?  have 
you  brought  a  head — let  me  see  ?" 

Here  the  Serdar  took  him  up,  and  said,  "  What  have  you 
done  ?  What  Russians  are  on  the  frontier  ?  and  when  shall  we 
get  at  them  ?" 

To  all  of  which  I  answered,  after  making  the  usual  prefatory 
speech,  "  Yes,  Agas,  I  have  done  all  that  was  in  my  power  to 
do.  It  was  a  lucky  hour  when  we  set  off,  for  everything  that 
you  wish  to  know  I  can  explain  ;  and  it  is  evident  that  the 


A    FAVORABLE    INTERVIEW    WITH   THE    SERDAR,  213 

destinies  of  tlie  Serdar  and  of  my  master  are  much  on  the  rise, 
since  so  insignificant  a  slave  as  I  can  be  of  use  to  them." 

"  Good  luck  is  no  bad  thing,  tliat's  true,"  said  the  Serdar, 
"but  we  trust  a  great  deal  to  our  swords,  too," — rolling  his 
eyes  about  at  the  same  time,  xind  smiling  in  the  face  of  the  chief 
executioner. 

"Yes,  yes,"  said  his  companion,  "swords  and  gunpowder, 
spears  and  pistols, — those  are  our  astrologers.  It  will  always 
be  a  fortunate  hour  thfit  will  bring  me  within  slice  of  an  infidel's 
neck.  As  for  me,  I  am  a  Mzzil  hash,  (a  red  head,)  and  pretend 
to  nothing  else.  A  good  horse,  a  sharp  sword,  a  spear  in  my 
hand,  and  a  large  maidan  (an  open  space)  before  me,  with 
plenty  of  Muscovites  in  it, — that  is  all  I  want." 

"  And  what  do  you  say  to  good  wine,  too  ?"  said  the  Serdar. 
"  I  think  that  is  as  good  a  thing  as  any  you  have  mentioned. 
We'll  have  the  Caliph  in,  and  make  him  give  Hajji  a  cup  of  his 
best.  But  tell  us  first,"  addressing  himself  to  me,  "what  have 
you  seen  and  done  ?  Where  are  the  Russians  posted  ? — how 
many  of  them  are  there  ? — have  they  any  guns  ? — who  com- 
mands them  ? — where  are  their  Cossacks  ? — have  you  heard 
anything  of  the  Georgians  ? — where  is  the  Russian  commander- 
in-chief? — what  are  the  Lesgi  about? — where  is  the  renegade 
Ismael  Khan  ? — Come,  tell  us  all :  and  you,  Mirza,"  addressing 
himself  to  his  scribe,  "write  down  all  he  says." 

Upon  this  I  drew  myself  up,  and  putting  on  a  face  of  wis- 
dom, I  made  the  following  speech  : — 

"By  the  soul  of  the  Serdar!  by  the  salt  of  the  chief  execu- 
tioner !  the  Muscovites  are  nothing.  In  comparison  to  the 
Persians,  they  are  mere  dogs.  I,  who  have  seen  with  my  own 
eyes,  can  tell  you,  that  one  Persian,  with  a  spear  in  his  hand, 
would  kill  ten  of  those  miserable,  beardless  creatures." 

"  Ah,  you  male  lion  !  exclaimed  my  master,  apparently  de- 
lighted with  what  I  said,  "  I  always  knew  that  you  would  be 
something.  Leave  an  Ispahani  alone  ;  he  will  always  show  his 
good  sense." 

"  There  are  but  few  Muscovites  on  the  frontier.  Five,  six, 
seven,  or  eight  hundred, — perhaps  a  thousand  or  two  thousand 
— but  certainly  not  more  than  three.  They  have  some  ten, 
twenty,  or  thirty  guns  ;  and  as  for  the  Cossacks,  putch  and, 
they  are  nothing.  It  is  very  inconvenient  that  they  are  to  be 
found  everywhere  when  least  wanted,  with  those  thick  spears 
of  theirs,  which  look  more  like  the  goad  of  an  ox  than  a  war- 
like weapon,  and  they  kill,  'tis  true  ;  but  then,  they  are  mounted 
upon  1/abous,  (jades,)  which  can  never  come  up  to  our  horses 


214  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

which  are  worth  thirty,  forty,  fifty  toraanns  each,  and  which  arc 
out  of  sight  before  they  can  even  get  theirs  into  a  gallop." 

"Why  do  you  waste  your  breath  upon  the  Cossacks  and 
their  horses  ?"  said  the  chief  executioner;  "you  might  as  well 
talk  of  monkeys  mounted  upon  bears.  Who  commands  the 
infidels?" 

"  They  call  him  the  deli  mayor,  or  the  mad  major  :  and  the 
reason  why  he  is  called  so  is,  because  he  never  will  runaway. 
Stories  without  number  are  related  of  him.  Among  others, 
that  he  has  got  the  pocket  Koran  of  his  excellency  the  Serdar 
in  his  possession,  which  he  shows  to  every  one  as  a  great 
trophy." 

"Ay,  that's  true,"  exclaimed  the  Serdar.  "  These  bankrupt 
dogs  surprised  me  last  year,  when  encamped  not  five  parasangs 
hence,  and  I  had  only  time  to  save  myself,  in  my  shirt  and 
trowsers,  on  the  back  of  an  unsaddled  horse.  Of  course,  they 
pillaged  my  tent,  and  among  other  things  stole  my  Koran.  But 
I'll  be  even  with  them.  I  have  shown  them  what  I  can  do  at 
Gavmishlu,  and  we  still  have  much  more  to  perform  upon  their 
fathers'  graves.     How  many  guns,  did  you  say  they  had  ?" 

"  Four  or  five,  or  six,"  said  I. 

"I  wrote  down  twenty  or  thirty  just  now,"  remarked  the 
mirza,  who  was  writing  at  the  edge  of  the  carpet, — "which  of 
the  two  is  right  ?" 

"Why  do  you  tell  us  lies  ?"  exclaimed  the  Serdar,  his  eyes 
becoming  more  animated  as  he  spoke.  "If  we  find  that  any 
part  of  what  you  say  be  false,  by  the  head  of  Ali !  you  will 
soon  discover  that  our  beards  are  not  to  be  laughed  at  with 
impunity." 

"  In  truth,  then,"  said  I,  "this  intelligence  is  not  of  my  own 
acquiring.  The  greatness  of  the  Serdar's,  and  my  Aga's  good 
fortune,  consists  in  my  having  fallen  upon  a  means  of  getting 
the  most  perfect  information  through  a  young  Armenian,  who 
risked  his  life  for  us,  upon  my  making  him  a  promise  of  recom- 
pense in  the  name  of  the  Serdar." 

"  A  recompense  in  my  name  ?"  exclaimed  the  Serdar  ;  "  who 
is  this  Armenian  ? — and  what  Armenian  was  ever  worthy  of  a 
recompense  ?" 

Upon  this,  I  related  the  whole  of  Yusuf 's  history,  from  the 
beginning  to  the  end.  In  pleading  his  cause  in  this  public 
manner,  I  hoped  that  the  Serdar  would  feel  it  impossible  to 
resist  the  justice  of  the  demand  which  I  made  upon  him,  and 
that  my  young  protege  would  at  once  be  released  from  his  fears 
and  apprehensions  of  the  chief's  resentment,  and  restored  to 
the  undisputed  possession  of  his  wife. 


A    FAVORABLE    INTERVIEW    WITH    THE    SERDAR.  215 

When  I  had  done  speaking,  nothing  was  said  ;  but  here  and 
there  Allah!  Allah  !  el  Allah  !  (there  is  but  one  God  !)  in  sup- 
pressed exclamations  from  the  lips  of  the  Moharaedans  present ; 
whilst  the  Serdar,  having  rolled  his  eyes  about,  and  twitched 
his  mouth  into  various  odd  shapes,  at  length  mumbled  out, 
"the  Armenian  has  performed  wonders;"'  and  then  called 
aloud  to  his  servants  to  bring  his  water-pipe. 

Having  smoked  two  or  three  long  whiffs,  he  said,  "Where 
is  this  Armenian  ?     Order  the  Caliph  also  to  come  before  us." 

Upon  Vr'hich  Yusuf  was  ushered  in,  with  the  shoves  and 
thrusts  by  which  a  poor  man  of  his  nation  is  generally  intro- 
duced before  a  Persian  grandee ;  and  he  stood  in  face  of  the 
assembly  as  fine  a  specimen  of  manly  beauty  as  was  ever  seen, 
evidently  creating  much  sensation  upon  all  present  by  the  in- 
trepidity of  his  appearance.  The  Serdar,  in  particular,  fixed 
his  eyes  upon  him  with  looks  of  approbation  ;  and,  turning 
round  to  the  executioner-in-chief,  made  signs,  well  known 
among  Persians,  of  his  great  admiration. 

The  Caliph,  a  heavy,  coarse  man,  of  a  rosy  and  jovial  ap- 
pearance, dressed  in  the  black  hood  peculiar  to  the  Armenian 
clergy,  appeared  soon  after,  followed  by  two  or  three  of  his 
priests.  Having  stood  for  a  short  time  before  the  Serdar  and 
his  companion,  he  was  invited  to  sit,  which  he  did,  not  without 
going  through  all  the  ceremonial  of  complimentary  phrases, 
and  covering  the  feet  and  hands  in  a  manner  usual  on  such 
occasions. 

The  Serdar  then,  addressing  himself  to  the  Caliph,  said,  "  It 
is  plain  that  we  Mussulmans  are  become  less  than  dogs  in  the 
land  of  Iran.  The  Armenians  now  break  into  our  harems, 
steal  our  wives  and  slaves  from  before  our  faces,  and  invite 
men  to  defile  our  fathers'  graves.  What  news  is  this,  0  Caliph  ? 
Is  this  Allah's  work  or  yours  ?" 

The  Caliph,  attacked  in  this  unexpected  manner,  looked  very 
much  alarmed,  and  the  dew  broke  out  upon  his  ample  and 
porous  forehead.  Experience  had  taught  him  that  these  sorts 
of  attacks  were  generally  the  forerunners  of  some  heavy  fine, 
and  he  already  put  himself  in  a  posture  of  defence  to  resist  it. 

"What  language  is  this?"  said  he  in  answer.  "We,  whose 
dogs  are  we,  who  should  dare  even  to  think  upon  the  evil  of 
which  your  highness  speaks  ?  We  are  the  Shah's  subjects — 
you  are  our  protector,  and  the  Armenians  sit  in  peace  under 
your  shade.  What  manner  of  man  is  this  who  has  brought 
these  ashes  upon  our  heads  ?" 

"  That  is  he,"  answered  the  Serdar,  pointing  to  Yusuf.  "  Say, 
fellow,  have  you  stolen  my  slave  or  not  ?" 


216  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA, 

"If  I  am  guilty,"  said  the  youth,  "of  having  taken  aught 
from  any  man,  save  my  own,  here  am  I,  ready  to  answer  for 
myself  with  my  life.  She  who  threw  herself  out  of  your  win- 
dows into  my  arms  was  my  wife  before  she  was  your  slave.  "We 
are  both  the  Shah's  rayats,  and  it  is  best  known  to  yourself  if 
you  can  enslave  them  or  no.  We  are  Armenians,  'tis  true,  but 
we  have  the  feelings  of  men.  It  is  well  known  to  all  Persia, 
that  our  illustrious  Shah  has  never  forced  the  harem  of  even 
the  meanest  of  his  subjects ;  and,  secure  in  that  feeling,  how 
could  I  ever  suppose,  most  noble  Serdar,  that  we  should  not 
receive  the  same  protection  under  your  government  ?  You 
were  certainly  deceived  when  told  that  she  was  a  Georgian 
prisoner ;  and  had  you  known  that  she  was  the  wife  of  one  of 
your  peasantry,  you  never  would  have  made  her  your  property." 

The  Caliph,  frightened  at  the  language  of  the  youth,  stopped 
him,  by  loud  and  angry  exclamations ;  but  the  Serdar,  ap- 
parantly  struck  by  language  so  unusual  to  his  ears,  instead  of 
appearing  angry,  on  the  contrary,  looked  delighted  (if  the  looks 
of  such  a  countenance  could  ever  express  delight);  and,  staring 
with  astonished  eyes  upon  the  youth,  seemed  to  forget  even  the 
reason  of  his  having  been  brought  before  him.  Of  a  sudden, 
as  if  dispelling  his  former  indignation,  he  stopped  all  further 
discussion  by  saying  to  him,  "  Enough,  enough  ;  go,  take  your 
wife,  and  say  no  more ;  and,  since  you  have  rendered  us  a  ser- 
vice at  Hamamlu,  you  shall  remain-  my  servant,  and  wait  upon 
my  person.  Go,  my  head  valet  will  instruct  you  in  your  duties  ; 
and  when  attired  in  clothes  suited  to  your  situation,  you  will 
return  again  to  our  presence.  Go,  and  recollect  that  my  con- 
descension towards  you  depends  upon  your  future  conduct." 
Upon  this  Yusuf,  in  the  fullness  of  his  heart,  ran  up  to  him  with 
great  apparent  gratitude,  fell  upon  his  knees,  and  kissed  the 
hem  of  his  garment,  not  knowing  what  to  say,  or  what  coun- 
tenance to  keep  upon  such  unlooked  for  good  fortune. 

Every  one  present  seemed  astonished :  the  chief  executioner 
gave  a  shrug,  and  indulged  in  a  deep  yawn ;  the  Caliph,  as  if 
he  had  been  disencumbered  of  a  heavy  weight,  stretched  his 
limbs,  and  the  huge  drops  that  were  before  glittering  on  his 
brow  now  disappeared,  and  his  face  again  expanded  into  good 
humor.  All  congratulated  the  Serdar  upon  his  humanity  and 
benevolence,  and  compared  him  to  the  celebrated  Noushirwan. 
Barikallah  and  Mashallah  were  repeated  and  echoed  from  mouth 
to  mouth,  and  the  story  of  his  magnanimity  was  spread  abroad, 
and  formed  the  talk  of  the  whole  camp.  I  will  not  pretend  to 
explain  v/hat  were  the  Serdar's  real  sentiments  ;  but  those  who 
well  knew  the  man  were  agreed  that  he  could  be  actuated  by 
no  generous  motive. 


CHAPTER   XLI. 

A    MEMORABLE    EXPEDITION    AGAINST    THE    RUSSIANS. 

My  chief  and  the  Serdar  having  acquired  all  the  information 
which  Yusuf  and  I  could  give  them  upon  the  force  and  position 
of  the  Muscovites,  it  was  determined  that  an  attack  should  im- 
mediately be  made,  and  the  army  was  ordered  to  march  upon 
Hamamlu. 

Everything  was  soon  in  motion ;  the  artillery  began  its 
tedious  and  difficult  march  through  the  mountains  ;  the  infantry 
made  their  way  in  the  best  manner  they  could,  and  the  cavalry 
were  seen  in  unconnected  groups  all  over  the  plain.  I  must 
not  omit  to  say,  that  before  the  march  began  I  received  a  visit 
from  the  Armenian.  He  was  no  longer,  in  appearance,  the 
rude  mountaineer  with  his  rough  sheepskin  cap,  his  short 
Georgian  tunic,  his  sandaled  feet,  his  long  knife  hung  over 
his  knee,  and  his  gun  slung  obliquely  across  his  body ;  but  he 
was  now  attired  in  a  long  dress  of  crimson  velvet,  trimmed  with 
gold  lace  and  gold  buttons  ;  a  beautiful  Cashmerian  shawl  was 
tied  gracefully  around  his  waist;  his  small  cap,  of  Bokhara 
lamb-skin,  was  duly  indented  at  the  top,  and  the  two  long  curls 
behind  his  ears  were  combed  out  with  all  proper  care.  He  had 
now  more  the  appearance  of  a  woman  than  a  man,  so  much 
were  his  fine  limbs  hid  by  his  robes  ;  and  as  he  approached  rae, 
he  could  not  help  blushing  and  looking  awkward  at  the  meta- 
morphosis. He  thanked  me  with  expressions  that  indicated 
much  gratitude,  and  assured  me,  that  so  far  from  having  ex- 
pected this  result  to  his  interview  with  the  Serdar,  he  had,  in 
fact,  made  up  his  mind  to  the  loss  of  both  his  wife  and  life,  and 
therefore  had  spoken  with  the  boldness  of  one  determined  to  die. 
"But,"  said  he,  "notwithstanding  this  great  change  in  ray  for- 
tunes, this  new  existence  of  mine  will  never  do.  I  cannot  en- 
dure the  degradation  of  being  a  mere  idle  appendage  to  the 
state  of  the  Serdar ;  and  be  not  angry  if,  ere  long,  I  decline  the 
honor  of  his  service.  I  will  submit  to  everything  as  long  as 
my  wife  is  not  in  a  place  of  safety  ;  but  when  once  I  have 
secured  that,  then  adieu.  Better  live  a  swine-herd  in  the 
(jeorgian  mountains,  naked  and  houseless,  than  in  all  these 
silks  and  velvets,  a  despised  hanger-on,  be  it  even  in  the  most 
luxurious  court  of  Persia." 

19  (211) 


218  *  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

I  could  uot  lielp  applauding  such  sentiments,  although  I 
should  have  been  happy  had  he  made  any  one  else  his  con- 
fidant, conscious  that  if  he  did  runaway  I  should  in  some  mea- 
sure be  made  answerable  for  him. 

In  the  meanwhile  the  army  proceeded  on  its  march.  As  we 
passed  Ashtarek,  Yusuf  got  permission  to  take  possession  of 
Mariam,  who,  now  transformed  into  the  wife  of  one  who  had 
the  reputation  of  being  in  the  good  graces  of  the  Serdar, 
traveled  with  great  respectability  and  consideration  on  horse- 
back, and  formed  one  among  the  numerous  camp-followers  that 
are  always  attached  to  a  Persian  army.  The  camp  was  pitched 
between  Gavmishlu  and  Aberan,  where  all  that  was  not  neces- 
sary for  the  expedition  was  ordered  to  remain  until  its  return. 
It  was  settled  that  the  Serdar  and  the  chief  executioner,  each 
accompanied  by  their  own  men,  with  two  pieces  of  artillery, 
should  form  the  expedition,  and  toward  the  close  of  the  evening 
it  set  off. 

As  we  approached  the  scene  of  action,  the  Serdar  became 
impatient  of  delay,  and,  like  every  Persian  who  despises  the 
utility  of  infantry,  expressed  his  wish  to  push  on  with  the 
cavalry.  I  will  not  say  as  much  for  the  impatience  of  my  chief. 
He  continued  his  boastings  to  the  last,  'tis  true,  and  endeavored 
to  make  every  one  believe  that  he  had  only  to  appear,  and  the 
enemy  would  instantly  be  seized  with  a  panic  ;  but  at  length  he 
ceded  to  the  Serdar's  wishes  of  bringing  on  the  rear-guard, 
whilst  the  latter  pushed  on  to  Hamamlu  with  the  main  body  of 
the  cavalry.  I,  of  course,  remained  behind,  to  act  under  the 
orders  of  my  chief.  The  Serdar  intended  to  reach  Ilamamlu 
before  break  of  day  in  order  to  surprise  the  gates,  and  de- 
viated from  the  road  to  ford  the  Pembaki  river.  We  continued 
our  march  straight  for  that  place,  and  were  to  appear  as  the 
day  dawned,  to  give  a  retreat  to  the  Serdar,  in  case  he  should 
be  beaten  back. 

The  morning  had  just  broke  when  we  reached  the  banks  of 
the  river.  The  chief  executioner  was  surrounded  by  a  body  of 
about  five  hundred  cavalry,  and  the  infantry  was  coming  up  as 
well  as  it  could.  We  w^ere  about  fording  the  river,  when  of  a 
sudden  we  were  accosted  by  a  voice  on  the  other  side,  which 
shouted  out  two  or  three  strange  words  in  a  language  unknown 
to  us,  explaining  their  meaning  by  a  musket  shot.  This  stopped 
our  career,  and  called  the  attention  of  our  chief,  who  came  ujj, 
looking  paler  than  death. 

"What's  the  news?"  exclaimed  he,  in  a  voice  far  below  its 
usual  pitch — "what  are  we  doing? — where  are  we  going?— 
Hajji  Baba,"  accosting  me,  "was  it  you  that  fired  ?" 


EXPEDITION    AGAINST    THE    RUSSIANS.  219 

"  No,"  said  I,  catching  rather  more  of  his  apprehension  than 
was  convenient;  "no,  I  did  not  fire.  Perhaps  there  are  ffJiols 
here  among  the  Muscovites,  as  well  as  at  Ashtarek  among  the 
Armenians." 

In  another  minute  more  barbarous  cries  were  heard,  and 
another  shot  was  fired,  and  by  this  time  day  had  sufficiently 
advanced  to  show  two  men,  on  the  other  bank,  whom  we  dis- 
covered to  be  Russian  soldiers.  As  soon  as  our  chief  saw  the 
extent  of  the  danger  and  the  foe  opposed  to  us,  his  countenance 
cleared  up,  and  he  Instantly  put  on  the  face  of  the  greatest 
resolution  and  vigor.  "Go,  seize,  strike,  kill!"  he  exclaimed, 
almost  in  one  breath,  to  those  around  him — "Go,  bring  me 
the  heads  of  yonder  two  fellows." 

Immediately  several  men  dashed  into  the  river,  with  drawn. 
swords,  whilst  the  two  soldiers  withdrew  to  a  small  rising 
ground,  and,  placing  themselves  back  to  back,  began  a  regular, 
though  alternate,  discharge  of  their  muskets  upon  their  as- 
sailants, with  a  steadiness  that  surprised  us.  They  killed  two 
men,  which  caused  the  remainder  to  retreat  back  to  our  com- 
mander, and  no  one  else  seemed  at  all  anxious  to  follow  their 
example.  In  vain  he  swore,  entreated,  pushed,  and  offered 
money  for  their  heads  :  not  one  of  his  men  wonld  advance.  At 
length  he  said,  with  a  most  magnanimous  shout,  "  I  myself  will 
go  ;  here,  make  way !  will  nobody  follow  me  ?"  Then,  stop- 
ping, and  addressing  himself  to  me,  he  said,  "  Hajji !  my  soul, 
ray  friend,  M'out  you  go  and  cut  those  men's  heads  off?  I'll 
give  you  everything  you  can  ask."  Then,  putting  his  hand 
round  my  neck,  he  said,  "  Go,  go ;  I  am  sure  you  can  cut  their 
heads  off." 

We  were  parleying  in  this  manner,  when  a  shot  from  one  of 
the  Russians  hit  the  chief  executioner's  stirrup,  which  awoke 
his  fears  to  such  a  degree,  that  he  immediately  fell  to  uttering 
the  most  violent  oaths.  Calling  away  his  troops,  and  retreating 
himself  at  a  quick  pace,  he  exclaimed,  "  Curses  be  on  their 
beards  I  Curse  their  fathers,  mothers,  their  ancestry,  and  pos- 
terity !  Who  ever  fought  after  this  fashion  ?  Killing,  killing, 
as  if  we  were  so  many  hogs.  See,  see,  what  animals  they  are  1 
They  will  not  run  away,  do  all  you  can  to  them.  They  are 
worse  than  brutes  ; — brutes  have  feeling, — they  have  none.  O 
Allah,  Allah,  if  there  was  no  dying  in  the  case,  how  the  Per- 
sians would  tight !" 

By  this  time  he  had  proceeded  some  distance,  and  then  halted. 
Our  chief,  expecting  to  find  the  Russians  back  to  back  under 
every  bush,  did  not  know  what  course  to  pursue,  when  the  de- 
cision was  soon  made  for  us  by  the  appearance  of  the  Serdar, 


220  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

who,  followed  by  his  cavahy,  was  seen  retreating  in  all  haste 
from  before  the  enemy.  It  was  evident  tliat  his  enterprise  had 
failed,  and  nothing  was  left  for  the  whole  army  but  to  return 
whence  it  came. 

I  will  not  attempt  to  draw  a  picture  of  the  miserable  aspect 
of  the  Serdar's  troops  ;  they  all  looked  harassed  and  worn  down 
by  fatigue,  and  seemed  so  little  disposed  to  rally,  that  one  and 
all,  as  if  by  tacit  consent,  proceeded  straight  on  their  course 
homewards,  without  once  looking  back.  But  as  much  as  they 
were  depressed  in  spirits,  in  the  same  degree  were  raised  those 
of  our  commander.  He  so  talked  of  his  prowess,  of  the  wound 
he  had  received,  and  of  his  intended  feats,  that  at  length,  seizing 
a  spear,  he  put  his  horse  at  the  full  gallop,  and  overtaking  his 
own  cook,  who  was  making  the  best  of  his  way  to  his  pots  and 
pans,  darted  it  at  him,  in  the  exuberance  of  his  valor,  and 
actually  pierced  him  in  the  back  through  his  shawl  girdle. 

Thus  ended  an  expedition  which  the  Serdar  expected  would 
have  given  him  a  great  harvest  of  glory  and  of  Muscovites' 
heads  ;  and  which,  the  chief  executioner  flattered  himself,  would 
aiford  him  exultation  and  boasting  for  the  remainder  of  his  life. 
But,  notwithstanding  its  total  failure,  still  he  had  ingenuity 
enough  to  discover  matter  for  self-congratulation. 

Surrounded  by  a  circle  of  his  adherents,  amongst  whom  I  was 
one,  he  was  in  the  midst  of  a  peal  of  boasting,  when  a  message 
came  from  the  Serdar,  requesting  that  Hajji  Baba  might  be 
sent  to  him.  I  returned  with  the  messenger,  and  the  first  words 
which  the  Serdar  said,  upon  my  appearing  before  him,  were, 
"Where  is  Yusuf?     Where  is  his  wife?" 

It  immediately  occurred  to  me  that  they  had  escaped ;  and 
putting  on  one  of  my  most  innocent  looks,  I  denied  having  the 
least  knowledge  of  their  movements. 

The  Serdar  then  began  to  roll  his  eyeballs  about,  and  to 
twist  up  his  mouth  into  various  shapes.  Passion  burst  from 
him  in  the  grossest  and  most  violent  expressions ;  he  vowed 
vengeance  upon  him,  his  race,  his  village,  and  upon  everything 
and  everybody  in  the  least  connected  with  him ;  and  whilst  he 
expressed  a  total  disbelief  of  all  my  protestations  of  ignorance, 
he  gave  me  to  understand,  that  if  I  was  found  to  have  been  in 
the  smallest  degree  an  accessory  to  his  escape,  he  would  use 
all  his  influence  to  sweep  my  vile  person  from  the  face  of  the 
earth. 

I  afterwards  heard  that  he  had  sent  a  party  of  men  to  Gav- 
mishlu,  to  seize  and  bring  before  him  Yusuf's  parents  and 
kindred,  with  everything  that  belonged  to  them;  to  take  pos- 
session of  their  property,  and  to  burn  and  destroy  whatever 


A    SPECIMEN    OF    ORIENTAL    LYING.  221 

they  could  not  bring  away  :  but  the  sagacious  and  active  youth 
had  forseen  this,  and  had  taken  his  measures  with  such  pru- 
dence and  promptitude,  that  he  had  completely  baffled  the 
tyrant.  He,  his  wife,  his  wife's  relations,  his  own  parents  and 
family,  with  all  their  effects,  (leaving  only  their  tilled  ground 
behind  them,)  had  concerted  one  common  plan  of  migration 
into  the  Russian  territory.  It  had  fully  succeeded,  as  I  after- 
wards heard,  for  they  were  received  with  great  kindness,  both 
by  the  government  and  by  their  own  sect ;  lands  were  allotted, 
and  every  help  aflbrded  them  for  the  re-establishment  of  their 
losses. 


CHAPTER  XLTI. 

A    SPECIMEN    OF    ORIENTAL    LYING. 

I  RETURNED  to  my  chief  full  of  apprehension  at  the  threat 
which  I  had  received  ;  and  knowing  how  very  tenacious  all  our 
great  men  are  of  power  over  their  own  servants,  I  did  not  fail 
immediately  to  inform  him  of  the  language  which  the  Serdar 
had  entertained  me  with.  He  became  furious,  and  I  had  only 
to  fan  the  flame  which  I  had  raised  in  order  to  create  a  quarrel 
between  them ;  Init,  having  more  fears  about  the  Serdar's 
power  of  hurting  me  than  I  had  confidence  in  the  ability  of  the 
chief  executioner  to  protect  me,  I  thought  it  best  for  all  parties 
that  I  should  retire  from  the  scene,  and  craved  my  master's  per- 
mission to  return  to  Tehran.  Pleased  with  an  opportunity  of 
showing  the  Serdar  that  nobody  but  himself  could  control  his 
servants,  he  at  once  assented  to  my  proposal ;  and  forthwith 
began  to  give  me  instructions  concerning  what  I  should  say  to 
the  grand  vizier  toucliing  the  late  expedition,  and  particularly 
in  what  light  I  was  to  place  his  own  individual  prowess. 

"  You  yourself  was  there,  Hajji,"  said  he  to  me,  "  and  there- 
fore can  describe  the  whole  action  as  well  as  I  could.  We 
cannot  precisely  say  that  we  gained  a  victory,  because,  alas  !  we 
have  no  heads  to  show  ;  but  we  also  were  not  defeated.  The 
Serdar,  ass  that  he  is,  instead  of  waiting  for  the  artillery,  and 
availing  himself  of  the  infantry,  attacks  a  walled  town  with  his 
cavalry  only,  and  is  very  much  surprised  that  the  garrison  shut 
their  gates,  and  fire  at  him  from  the  ramparts  :  of  course  he 
can  achieve  nothing,  and  retires  in  disgrace.  Had  I  been  your' 
leader,  things  would  have  gone  otherwise ;  and  as  it  was,  I  was 
19* 


222  THK  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

the  only  man  who  came  hand  to  hand  with  the  enemy.  I  was 
wounded  in  a  desperate  manner ;  and  had  it  not  been  for  the 
river  between  us,  not  a  man  of  them  would  have  been  left  to 
tell  the  tale.  You  will  say  all  this,  and  as  much  more  as  you 
please ;"  and  then,  giving  me  a  packet  of  letters  to  the  grand 
vizier,  and  to  the  different  men  in  office,  and  an  arizeh  (a  me- 
morial) to  the  Shah,  he  ordered  me  to  depart. 

I  found  the  Shah  still  encamped  at  Sultanieh,  although  the 
autumn  was  now  far  advanced,  and  the  season  for  returning  to 
Tehran  near  at  hand.  I  presented  myself  at  the  grand  vizier's 
levee,  with  several  other  couriers,  from  different  parts  of  the 
empire,  and  delivered  my  despatches.  When  he  had  inspected 
mine,  he  called  me  to  him,  and  said  aloud,  "  You  are  welcome  ! 
You  also  were  at  Hamamlu  ?  The  infidels  did  not  dare  to  face 
the  Kizzil  bashes,  eh  ?  The  Persian  horseman,  and  the  Persian 
sword,  after  all,  nobody  can  face.  Your  khan,  I  see,  has  been 
wounded  ;  he  is  indeed  one  of  the  Shah's  best  servants.  Well 
it  was  no  worse.  You  must  have  had  hot  work  on  each  bank 
of  the  river." 

To  all  of  this,  and  much  more,  I  said  "Yes,  yes,"  and  "  no, 
no,"  as  fast  as  the  necessity  of  the  remark  required ;  and  I  en- 
joyed the  satisfaction  of  being  looked  upon  as  a  man  just  come 
out  of  a  battle.  The  vizier  then  called  to  one  of  his  mirzas  or 
secretaries,  "Here,"  said  he,  "you  must  make  out  a,  fatieh 
nameh,  (a  proclamation  of  victory,)  which  must  immediately  be 
sent  into  the  different  provinces,  particularly  to  Khorassan,  in 
order  to  ovei'awe  the  rebel  khans  there ;  and  let  the  account  be 
suited  to  the  dignity  and  character  of  our  victorious  monarch. 
We  are  in  want  of  a  victory  just  at  present ;  but,  recollect,  a 
good,  substantial,  and  bloody  victory." 

"  How  many  strong  were  the  enemy  ?"  inquired  the  mirza, 
looking  towards  me.  "  Bisyar,  bisyar,  many,  many,"  answered 
I,  hesitating  and  embarrassed  how  many  it  would  be  agreeable 
that  I  should  say.  "  Put  down  fifty  thousand,"  said  the  vizier 
coolly.  "How  many  killed?"  said  the  mirza,  looking  first  at 
the  vizier,  then  at  me.  "Write  ten  to  fifteen  thousand  killed," 
answered  the  minister :  "remember  these  letters  have  to  travel 
a  great  distance.  It  is  beneath  the  dignity  of  the  Shah  to  kill 
less  than  his  thousands  and  tens  of  thousands.  Would  you 
have  him  less  than  Riistam,  and  weaker  than  Afrasiah  ?  No, 
our  kings  must  be  drinkers  of  lilood,  and  slayers  of  men,  to  be 
held  in  estimation  by  their  subjects,  and  surrounding  nations. 
Well,  have  you  written  ?"  said  the  grand  vizier. 

"Yes,  at  your  highness's  service,"  answered  the  mirza;  "I 
have  written  (reading  from  his  paper)  that  the  infidel  dogs  of 


EXECUTION    OF    ZEENAB.  223 

Muscovites  (whom  may  Allah  in  his  mercy  impale  on  stakes  of 
living  fires  !)  dared  to  appear  in  arms  to  the  number  of  fifty 
thousand,  flanked  and  supported  by  a  hundred  mouths  spouting 
fire  and  brimstone  ;  but  that  as  soon  as  the  all-victorious  armies 
of  the  Shah  appeared,  ten  to  fifteen  thousand  of  them  gave  up 
their  souls  ;  whilst  prisoners  poured  in  in  such  vast  numbers, 
that  the  prices  of  slaves  have  diminished  one  hundred  per  cent. 
in  all  the  slave  markets  of  Asia." 

"Barikallahl  Well  done,"  said  the  grand  vizier.  "You 
have  written  well.  If  the  thing  be  not  exactly  so,  yet,  by  the 
good  luck  of  the  Shah,  it  will,  and  therefore  it  amounts  to  the 
same  thing.  Truth  is  an  excellent  thing  when  it  suits  one's 
purpose,  but  very  inconvenient  when  otherwise." 

"Yes,"  said  the  mirza,  as  he  looked  up  from  his  knee,  upon 
which  he  rested  his  hand  to  write  his  letter,  and  quoting  a  well 
known  passage  in  Saadi,  "Falsehood  mixed  with  good  inten- 
tions, is  preferable  to  truth  tending  to  excite  strife." 

The  vizier  then  called  for  his  shoes,  rose  from  his  seat, 
mounted  the  horse  that  was  waiting  for  him  at  the  door  of  his 
tent,  and  proceeded  to  the  audience  of  the  Shah,  to  give  an 
account  of  the  different  despatches  that  he  had  just  received.  I 
followed  him,  and  mixed  in  with  his  large  retinue  of  servants, 
until  he  turned  round  to  me,  and  said,  "You  are  dismissed; 
go  and  take  your  rest." 


CHAPTER  XLIII. 

EXECUTION    OF    ZEENAB. 

In  a  few  days  after  the  camp  was  struck,  and  the  Shah  re- 
turned to  his  winter  quarters  at  Tehran,  in  the  same  pomp  and 
parade  with  which  he  had  left  it.  I  had  resumed  my  post  as 
sub-lieutenant  to  the  chief  erecutioner,  and  was  busily  engaged 
in  disposing  of  the  men  under  my  command,  that  the  best  order 
might  be  preserved  during  the  march,  when  I  was  commanded 
to  send  off  a  messenger  to  Tehran,  with  orders  that  the  hazigers, 
the  dancers  and  singers,  should  be  in  readiness  to  receive  the 
Shah  on  his  arrival  at  Sulimanieh.  This  place,  as  I  have  said 
before,  is  a  palace  situated  on  the  banks  of  the  Caraj,  about 
nine  parasangs  from  the  capital. 

On  receiving   this    order,    my  long-forgotten  Zeenab  came 


224  THE    ADVENTURES    OF    HAJJI    BABA, 

again  in  my  recollection,  and  all  my  tender  feelings  which, 
owing  to  my  active  life,  had  hitherto  lain  dormant,  were  now 
revived.  Seven  months  were  elapsed  since  we  had  first  become 
acquainted  ;  and  although  during  that  time  I  had  lived  with 
men  of  a  nature  sufficiently  barbarous  to  destroy  every  good 
feeling,  yet  there  was  something  so  terrible  in  what  I  imagined 
must  now  be  her  situation,  and  I  felt  myself  so  much  the  cause 
of  it,  that  my  heart  smote  me  every  time  that  the  subject  came 
across  my  mind.  "We  shall  soon  see,"  thought  I,  "if  my  fears 
be  well  founded.  In  a  few  days  more  we  reach  Suhmanieh, 
and  then  her  fate  will  be  decided." 

On  the  day  of  our  arrival  I  headed  the  procession,  to  see  that 
every  proper  arrangement  had  been  made  within  the  palace ; 
and  as  I  approached  the  walls  of  the  harem,  within  which  the 
bazigers  had  already  taken  their  station,  I  heard  the  sounds  of 
their  voices  and  of  their  musical  instruments.  What  would  I 
not  have  given  to  have  spoken  to  Zeenab,  or  even  to  have  ob- 
served her  at  a  distance  I  But  I  knew  that  it  would  not  be 
prudent  to  ask  many  questions  concerning  her,  as  suspicions, 
dangerous  both  to  her  and  me,  might  arise,  and  probably  in- 
volve us  in  immediate  ruin.  Indeed,  had  I  been  inclined  to 
give  myself  much  stir  on  the  subject,  it  would  have  been  to  no 
purpose  ;  for  very  shortly  after  I  heard  the  salute  fired  from  the 
Zamburek  camels,  which  indicated  that  the  Shah  had  alighted 
from  his  horse. 

After  he  had  smoked  one  pipe  in  his  hall  of  state,  and  had 
dismissed  the  courtiers  who  attended  him,  he  retired  to  the 
harem. 

Upon  his  entrance  there,  I  heard  the  songs  of  the  women, 
accompanied  by  tambourines,  guitars,  and  little  drums,  rending 
the  air  as  they  walked  in  procession  before  him.  Well  did  I 
listen  with  all  my  ears  to  discover  Zeenab's  voice,  but  every 
endeavor  was  baffled,  and  I  remained  in  a  disagreeable  state  of 
vibration  betwixt  hope  and  fear,  until  a  hasty  order  was  issued 
for  my  old  master,  Mirza  Ahmak,  the  king's  physician,  to  ap- 
pear immediately  before  the  Shah.  Combinations  of  the  mind 
in  all  matters  of  deep  interest  are  formed  as  quick  as  thought, 
and  act  like  the  foretellings  of  prophecy.  When  I  heard  that 
the  hakim  was  sent  for,  a  cold  thrill  ran  through  my  veins,  and 
I  said  to  myself  "Zeenab  is  lost  for  ever  !" 

He  came,  was  soon  dismissed,  and  seeing  me  at  the  door  of 
the  harem,  took  me  on  one  side,  and  said,  "Hajji,  the  Shah  is 
much  enraged.  You  remember  the  Curdish  slave  which  I  pre- 
sented to  him  at  the  festival  of  the  No  ruz.  She  has  not  ap- 
peared among  the  dancing  women,  and  pretends  to  be  ill.     He 


EXECUTION    OF    ZEENAB.  225 

loves  her,  and  bad  set  his  heart  upon  seeing  her.  He  has  called 
me  to  an  account  for  her  conduct,  as  if  I  could  control  the 
caprice  of  this  dauf^hter  of  the  devil ;  and  says,  that  if  he  does 
not  find  her  in  full  health  and  beauty  when  he  reaches  the  ark, 
(the  palace,)  which  will  be  on  the  next  best  fortunate  hour,  he 
will  pluck  my  beard  out  by  the  roots.  Curse  the  unlucky  mo- 
ment which  made  her  my  slave  ;  and  still  more  the  hour  when  I 
first  invited  the  Shah  into  my  house." 

Upon  this  he  left  me,  to  set  off  immediately  for  Tehran, 
whilst  I  retired  to  my  tent,  to  ruminate  over  the  horrid  fate 
that  awaited  this  unfortunate  girl.  I  endeavored  to  rally  my  spi- 
rits by  the  hope  that  perhaps  she  was  actually  ill,  and  that  it  had 
been  impossible  for  her  to  appear  before  the  king;  and  then  I 
consoled  myself  with  the  idea,  that  if  my  fears  were  well  founded 
the  doctor's  heart  might  be  softened,  and  he  might  screen  her 
from  the  Shah's  observation,  by  giving  some  evasive  reason  for 
her  non-appearance.  Then,  after  all,  as  if  braving  my  feelings, 
I  repeated  to  myself  the  lines  of  one  of  our  poets,  who,  like  me, 
had  lost  his  mistress. 

"  Is  there  but  one  pair  of  stag  eyes,  or  one  cypress  waist,  or 
one  full-moon  face  in  the  world,  that  I  should  so  mourn  over 
the  loss  of  my  cruel  one  ? 

"Why  should  I  burn,  why  should  I  cut  myself,  and  sigh  out 
my  griefs  under  the  windows  of  the  deaf-eared  charmer  ? 

"  No,  let  me  love  where  love  is  cheap  ;  for  I  am  a  miser  of 
ray  feelings." 

Thus  I  endeavored  to  make  light  of  the  subject,  and  to  show 
myself  a  true  Mussulman  by  my  contempt  for  womankind.  But 
still,  turn  where  I  would,  go  where  I  would,  the  image  of  Zee- 
nab,  a  torn  and  mangled  corpse,  was  ever  before  my  eyes,  and 
haunted  my  imagination  at  all  seasons  and  at  all  hours. 

At  length  the  fortunate  hour  for  the  Shah's  entry  was  an- 
nounced, and  he  entered  Tehran  amidst  the  whole  of  its  popu- 
lation, who  had  been  turned  out  to  greet  his  arrival.  My  most 
pressing  want  was  to  see  the  hakim,  as  if  by  chance,  in  order  that 
no  suspicion  might  fall  upon  me,  in  case  poor  Zeenab  was  found 
guilty.  On  the  very  evening  of  our  arrival,  my  wishes  (alas  1 
how  fatally  !)  were  accomplished.  As  I  was  taken  up  in  giving 
some  orders  to  a  Nasakchi,  I  saw  him  come  out  of  the  Shah's 
private  apartment,  looking  full  of  care,  with  one  hand  stuck  in 
his  girdle,  the  other  in  his  side,  his  back  more  bent  than  usual, 
and  with  his  eyes  fixed  on  the  ground.  I  placed  myself  in  his 
way,  and  gave  him  the  salutation  of  peace,  which  caused  him 
to  look  up. 

When  he  had  recognized  me,  he  stopped,  saying,  "  You  are 


226  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

the  very  man  I  was  seeking.  Come  hither;"  and  he  took  me 
on  one  side.  "  Here  is  a  strange  story  afloat,"  said  he  ;  "  this 
Curd  lias  brought  all  sorts  of  ashes  on  my  head.  Wallah!  by 
Heaven,  the  Shah  has  run  clean  mad.  He  talks  of  making  a 
general  massacre  of  all  that  is  male,  within  and  without  his 
harem,  beginning  with  his  viziers,  and. finishing  by  the  eunuchs. 
He  swears  by  his  own  head,  that  he  will  make  me  the  first  ex- 
ample if  I  do  not  find  out  the  culprit." 

"What  culprit?  who?  what?"  said  I ;  "  what  has  hap- 
pened ?" 

"  Why,  Zeenab,"  answered  he,  "Zeenab." 

"  Oh  !  I  understand,"  said  I ;  "  ay  !  she  you  used  to  love  so 
much." 

"  I  ?"  answered  the  Hakim,  as  if  afraid  of  being  himself  sus- 
pected, "I?  Astaferallah !  Heaven  forbid!  Do  not  say  so, 
for  pity's  sake,  Hajji,  for  if  such  a  suspicion  were  once  hinted, 
the  Shah  would  put  his  threat  into  immediate  execution.  Where 
did  you  ever  hear  that  I  loved  Zeenab  ?" 

"  Many  things  were  reported  concerning  you  at  that  time," 
said  I,  "and  all  were  astonished  that  a  man  of  your  wisdom, 
the  Locman  of  his  time,  the  Galenus  of  Persia,  should  have  em- 
barked in  so  frail  and  dangerous  a  commodity  as  a  Curdish 
maid,  one  of  the  undoubted  progeny  of  the  devil  himself, 
whose  footsteps  could  not  be  otherwise  than  notoriously  unfor- 
tunate ;  who,  of  herself,  was  enough  to  bring  ill  luck  to  a  whole 
empire,  much  more  to  a  single  family  like  yours." 

"You  say  true,  Hajji,"  said  Mirza  Ahmak,  as  he  shook  his 
head  from  side  to  side,  and  struck  his  left  hand  on  the  pit  of  his 
stomach.  "  Ah  !  marvelous  fool  was  I  ever  to  have  been  caught 
by  her  black  eyes  !  in  fact,  they  were  not  eyes,  they  were  spells — • 
the  devil  himself  looked  out  of  them,  not  she,  and  if  he  is  not 
in  her  now,  may  I  be  called  Gorumsak  all  the  rest  of  my  days. 
But,  after  all,  what  shall  I  do  ?" 

"What  can  I  say  ?"  answered  I.  "  What  will  th^  Shah  do 
with  her  ?" 

"  Let  her  go  to  Jehanum,"  answered  the  doctor;  let  her  go 
to  her  father's  mansion,  and  a  good  journey  to  her.  I  am  only 
thinking  of  my  own  skin." 

Upon  this,  looking  up  tenderly  at  me,  he  said,  "Ah,  Hajji ! 
you  know  how  much  I  have  always  loved  you :  I  took  you  into 
my  house  when  you  were  houseless — I  placed  you  in  a  good 
situation,  and  you  have  risen  in  your  jDrofession  all  through 
me — allow  that  there  is,  or  that  there  ought  to  be  such  a  thing 
in  the  world  as  gratitude — you  have  now  an  opportunity  of  ex- 
ercising it:"  then  pausing  for  awhile,   and  playing  with  the 


EXECUTION    OF    ZEENAB.  227 

tip  of  my  beard,  he  said,  "  Have  you  guessed  what  I  wished 
to  say  ?" 

"  No,"  said  I,  "it  has  not  yet  reached  ruy  understanding." 
■    "  Well,  then,"  said  he,  "  in  two  words,  own  that  you  are  the 
culprit.     A  great  loss  of  consideration  would  accrue  to  me,  but 
none  to  you ;  you  are  young,  and  can  bear  such  a  story  to  be 
told  of  you." 

"  Loss  of  consideration,  indeed  !"  exclaimed  I,  "  what  is  that 
when  the  loss  of  life  will  ensue  ?  Are  you  mad,  oh  Hakim,  or 
do  you  think  me  so  ?  Why  should  I  die  ?  why  do  you  wish  to 
have  my  blood  upon  your  head  ?  All  I  can  say,  if  I  am  cjues- 
tioned  on  the  subject,  is  that  I  do  not  think  you  guilty,  because 
you  were  ever  too  much  in  fear  of  the  khanura,  your  wife ;  but 
I  will  never  say  that  I  am  guilty." 

Whilst  in  the  middle  of  our  conversation,  one  of  the  Shah's 
eunuchs  came  up  to  me,  and  said  that  his  chief  had  been 
ordered  to  see  that  the  sub-lieutenant  to  the  chief  executioner, 
with  five  men,  were  in  waiting  at  the  foot  of  the  high  tower  at 
the  entrance  of  the  harem,  at  the  hour  of  midnight ;  and  that 
they  were  to  bring  a  taboot,  or  hand-bier,  with  them,  to  bear 
away  a  corpse  for  interment. 

All  I  could  say  in  answer  was  "  he  cheshm,^^  (by  my  eyes ;) 
and  lucky  was  it  for  me  that  he  quitted  me  immediately,  that 
Mirza  Ahmak  had  also  left  me,  and  that  it  was  dusk,  or  else  the 
fear  and  anguish  which  overwhelmed  me  upon  hearing  this  mes- 
sage must  have  betrayed  me.  A  cold  sweat  broke  out  all  over 
my  body  ;  my  eyes  swam,  my  knees  knocked  under  me,  and  I 
should  perhaps  have  fallen  into  a  swoon,  if  the  counter  fear  of 
being  seen  in  such  a  state,  in  the  very  centre  of  the  palace,  had 
not  roused  me. 

"What,"  said  I  to  myself,  "  is  it  not  enough  that  I  have 
been  the  cause  of  her  death,  must  I  be  her  executioner  too  ? 
must  I  be  the  grave-digger  to  my  own  cliild  ?  must  I  be  tlie 
ill-fated  he  who  is  to  stretch  her  cold  limbs  in  the  grave,  and 
send  my  own  life's  blood  back  again  to  its  mother  earth  ?  Why 
am  I  called  upon  to  do  this,  oh  cruel,  most  cruel  destiny  ? 
Cannot  I  fly  from  the  horrid  scene  I  Cannot  I  rather  run  a 
dagger  into  my  heart  ?  But  no,  'tis  plain  my  fate  is  ordained, 
sealed,  fixed  !  and  in  vain  I  struggle — I  must  fulfill  the  task 
appointed  for  me  !  Oh  world,  world !  what  art  thou,  and  how 
much  more  wouldst  thou  be  known,  if  each  man  was  to  lift  up 
the  veil  that  hideth  his  own  actions,  and  show  himself  as  he 
really  is !" 

With  these  feelings,  oppressed  as  if  the  mountain  of  De- 
maweud  and  all  its  sulphurs  were  on  my  heart,  I  went  about 


228  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

my  work  doggedly,  collecting  the  several  men  who  were  to  be 
my  colleagues  in  this  bloody  tragedy ;  who,  heedless  and  un- 
concerned at  an  event  of  no  unfrequent  occurrence,  were  indif- 
ferent whether  they  were  to  be  the  bearers  of  a  murdered  corpse, 
or  themselves  the  instruments  of  murder. 

Tiie  night  was  dark  and  lowering,  and  well  suited  to  the  hor- 
rid scene  about  to  be  acted.  The  sun,  unusual  in  these  climates, 
had  set,  surrounded  by  clouds  of  the  color  of  blood ;  and,  as 
the  night  advanced,  they  rolled  on  in  unceasing  thunders  over 
the  summits  of  the  adjacent  range  of  Albors.  At  sudden  inter- 
vals the  moon  was  seen  through  the  dense  vapor,  which  covered 
her  again  as  suddenly,  and  restored  the  night  to  its  darkness 
and  solemnity.  I  was  seated  lonely  in  the  guard-room  of  the 
palace,  when  I  heard  the  cries  of  the  sentinels  on  the  watch- 
towers,  announcing  midnight,  and  the  voices  of  the  muezzins 
from  the  mosques,  the  wild  notes  of  whose  chant  floating  on  the 
wind,  ran  through  my  veins  with  the  chilling  creep  of  death, 
and  announced  to  me  that  the  hour  of  murder  was  at  hand  1 
They  were  the  harbingers  of  death  to  the  helpless  woman.  I 
started  up — I  could  not  bear  to  hear  them  more — I  rushed  on 
in  desperate  haste,  and  as  I  came  to  the  appointed  spot,  I 
found  my  five  companions  already  arrived,  sitting  unconcerned 
on  and  about  the  coffin  that  was  to  carry  my  Zeenab  to  her 
eternal  mansion.  The  only  word  which  I  had  power  to  say  to 
them  was,  "  ShoudV  Is  it  done?  to  which  they  answered, 
"iVe  Shoud,"  It  is  not  done.  To  which  ensued  an  awful  silence. 
I  had  hoped  that  all  was  over,  and  that  I  should  have  been 
spared  every  other  horror,  excepting  that  of  conducting  the 
melancholy  procession  to  the  place  of  burial  ;  but  no,  the  deed 
was  still  to  be  done,  and  I  could  not  retreat. 

On  the  confines  of  the  apartments  allotted  to  the  women  in 
the  Shah's  palace,  stands  a  high  octagonal  tower,  some  thirty 
ghez  in  height,  seen  conspicuous  from  all  parts  of  the  city,  at 
the  summit  of  which  is  a  chamber,  in  which  he  frequently  re- 
poses and  takes  the  air.  It  is  surrounded  by  unappropriated 
ground,  and  the  principal  gate  of  the  hai'em  is  close  to  its  base. 
On  the  top  of  all  is  a  terrace,  (a  spot,  ah  !  never  by  me  to  be 
forgotten  !)  and  it  was  to  this  that  our  whole  attention  was  now 
riveted.  I  had  scarcely  arrived,  when  looking  up,  we  saw 
three  figures,  two  men  and  a  female,  whose  forms  were  lighted 
up  by  an  occasional  gleam  of  moonshine,  that  shone  in  a  wild 
and  uncertain  manner  upon  them.  They  seemed  to  drag  their 
victim  between  them  with  much  violence,  whilst  she  was  seen  in 
attitudes  of  supplication,  on  her  knees,  with  her  hands  extended, 
and  in  all  the  agony  of  the  deepest  desperation.     "When  they 


EXECUTION    OF    ZEENAB.  229 

were  at  the  brink  of  the  tower  her  shrieks  were  audible,  but  so 
wild,  so  varied  by  the  blasts  of  wind  that  blew  round  the  build- 
ing, that  they  appeared  to  me  like  the  sounds  of  laughing 
madness. 

We  all  kept  a  dead  and  breathless  silence  :  even  my  five 
ruffians  seemed  moved — I  was  transfixed  like  a  lump  of  lifeless 
clay,  and  if  I  am  asked  what  my  sensations  were  at  the  time,  I 
should  be  at  a  loss  to  describe  them — I  was  totally  inanimate, 
and  still  I  knew  what  was  going  on.  At  length,  one  loud, 
shrill,  and  searching  scream  of  the  bitterest  woe  was  heard, 
which  was  suddenly  lost  in  an  interval  of  the  most  frightful 
silence.  A  heavy  fall,  which  immediately  succeeded,  told  us 
that  all  was  over.  I  was  then  roused,  and  with  my  head  con- 
fused, half  crazed  and  half  conscious,  I  immediat-ely  rushed  to 
the  spot,  where  my  Zeenab  and  her  burthen  lay  struggling,  a 
mangled  and  mutilated  corpse.  She  still  breathed,  but  the 
convulsions  of  death  were  upon  her,  and  her  lips  moved  as  if 
she  would  speak,  although  the  blood  was  fast  flowing  from  her 
mouth.  I  could  not  catch  a  word,  although  she  uttered  sounds 
that  seemed  like  words.  I  thought  she  said,  "  my  child  I  my 
child  !"  but  perhaps  it  was  an  illusion  of  my  brain.  I  hung 
over  her  in  the  deepest  despair,  and  having  lost  all  sense  of 
prudence  and  of  self-preservation,  I  acted  so  much  up  to  my  own 
feelings,  that  if  the  men  around  me  had  had  the  smallest  sus- 
picion of  my  real  situation,  nothing  could  have  saved  me  from 
destruction.  I  even  carried  my  phrensy  so  far  as  to  steep  my 
handkerchief  in  her  blood,  saying  to  myself,  "this,  at  least, 
shall  never  part  from  me  !"  I  came  to  myself,  however,  upon 
hearing  the  shrill  and  demon-like  voice  of  one  of  her  murder- 
ers from  the  tower's  height,  crying  out — "  Is  she  dead  :"  "Ay, 
as  a  stone,"  answered  one  of  my  ruffians.  "  Carry  her  away, 
then,"  said  the  voice.  "  To  hell  yourself,"  in  a  suppressed 
tone,  said  another  ruffian  ;  upon  which  my  men  lifted  the  dead 
body  into  the  taboot,  placed  it  upon  their  shoulders,  and  walked 
off"  with  it  to  the  burial  ground  without  the  city,  where  they 
found  a  grave  ready  dug  to  receive  it.  I  walked  mechanically 
after  them,  absorbed  in  most  melancholy  thoughts,  and  when 
we  had  arrived  at  the  burial-place,  I  sat  myself  down  on  a 
grave-stone,  scarcely  conscious  of  what  was  going  on.  I 
watched  the  operations  of  the  Nasakchies  with  a  sort  of  un- 
meaning stare ;  saw  them  place  the  dead  body  in  the  earth ; 
then  shovel  the  mould  over  it ;  then  place  two  stones,  one  at 
the  feet  and  the  other  at  the  head.  When  they  had  finished, 
they  came  up  to  me  and  said  "  that  all  was  done  :"  to  which  I 
20 


230  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

answered,  "Go  home,  I  will  follow."  They  left  me  seated  oa 
the  grave,  and  returned  to  the  town. 

The  night  continued  dark,  and  distant  thunders  still  echoed 
through  the  mountains.  No  other  sound  was  heard,  save  now 
and  then  the  infant-like  cries  of  the  jackall,  that  now  in  packs, 
and  then  by  two  or  three  at  the  time,  kept  prowling  round  the 
mansions  of  the  dead. 

The  longer  I  remained  near  the  grave,  the  less  I  felt  inclined 
to  return  to  my  home,  and  to  my  horrid  employment  of  execu- 
tioner. I  loathed  my  existence,  and  longed  to  be  so  secluded 
from  the  world,  and  from  all  dealings  with  those  of  high 
authority  in  it,  that  the  only  scheme  which  I  could  relish  was 
that  of  becoming  a  real  dervish,  and  passing  the  rest  of  my 
days  in  penitence  and  privations.  Besides,  the  fear  of  having 
disclosed,  both  by  my  words  and  actions,  how  much  I  was  in- 
volved in  the  fate  of  the  deceased,  came  across  my  mind,  and 
added  to  my  repugnance  of  returning. 

Day  by  this  time  began  to  dawn,  and  impelled,  both  by 
a  sense  of  my  danger,  and  by  my  desire  to  quit  a  place  which 
had  become  odious  to  me,  I  determined  to  proceed  on  foot  to 
Kinaragird,  the  first  stage  to  Ispahan,  and  then  take  advan- 
tage of  the  first  caravan  that  should  be  going  to  that  city. 

"  I  will  go  and  seek  consolation  in  retirement,  and  in  the 
bosom  of  my  family,"  said  I  to  myself;  "  I  will  see  what  is  be- 
come of  my  parents — perhaps  I  may  reach  the  paternal  roof  in 
time  to  receive  my  father's  dying  blessing,  and  by  my  presence, 
give  him  in  his  old  age  the  happiness  of  seeing  his  long  lost 
son  restored  to  him.  How  shall  I  be  able  to  go  through  my 
duties,  with  this  misfortune  about  my  neck  ?  I  have  lived  long 
enough  in  vice,  and  it  is  time  that  I  should  make  the  tobeh,  or 
renounce  my  wicked  ways." 

In  short,  this  horrid  event  produced  such  an  effect  upon  my 
mind,  that  had  I  continued  in  the  sentiments  it  inspired  me 
with  through  life,  I  might  well  have  aspired  to  be  placed  at  the 
head  of  our  most  holy  dervishes. 


CHAPTER  XLiy. 

AN    OLD    FRIEND    AND    HIS    ADVICE. 

Pulling  out  the  handkerchief  from  ray  breast,  still  wet  with 
the  blood  of  the  unfortunate  Zeeuab,  I  contemplated  it  with 
feelings  of  the  most  bitter  anguish  ;  then  spreading  it  before  me 
on  her  grave,  I  went  through  a  ceremony  to  which  I  had  long 
been  unaccustomed — I  said  my  prayers.  Refreshed  by  this 
act,  and  strengthened  in  my  resolutions  of  leaving  Tehran,  I 
tore  myself  away,  and  stept  valiantly  onwards  towards  Ispahan. 

Having  reached  Kinaragird,  without  seeing  the  trace  of  a 
caravan,  and  feeling  myself  sufficiently  strong  to  proceed  on 
my  journey,  I  pushed  on  for  the  caravanserai  of  the  Sultan's 
Reservoir,  where  I  intended  to  halt  for  the  night. 

As  I  came  in  sight  of  the  building,  at  some  distance  in  the 
desert,  I  saw  a  man  putting  himself  in  strange  attitudes,  play- 
ing antics  by  himself,  and  apparently  addressing  himself  to 
something  on  the  ground.  I  approached  him,  and  found  that 
he  was  talking  with  great  animation  to  his  cap,  which  was 
thrown  some  yards  before  him.  Going  still  nearer  to  him,  I 
discovered  a  face  that  was  familiar  to  me. 

"  Who  can  it  be  ?"  said  I  to  myself:  "  it  must  be  one  of  my 
old  friends,  the  dervishes  of  Meshed." 

In  fact,  it  proved  to  be  the  Kcsschgo%i,  the  storyteller,  who 
was  practising  a  new  story  by  himself,  making  his  cap  act 
audience.  As  soon  as  he  saw,  he  recognized  me,  and  came  up 
to  embrace  me  with  seeming  rapture. 

"Ahi,  Hajji,"  said  he,  "peace  be  with  you!  Where  have 
you  been  these  many  years  ?  Your  place  has  long  been  empty. 
My  eyes  are  refreshed  by  the  sight  of  you."  Then  he  repeated 
himself  in  the  same  strain  several  times  over,  until  we  at  length 
got  upon  more  rational  subjects. 

He  related  his  adventures  since  we  had  last  met ;  which  con- 
sisted in  the  detail  of  long  and  painful  journeys,  and  of  the  various 
methods  which  his  ingenirity  had  suggested  to  him  of  gaining 
his  bread.  He  was  now  on  his  return  from  Constantinople,  from 
whence  he  had  walked,  and  had  it  in  contemplation  to  make 
his  way  in  the  same  manner  to  Delhi,  after  having  passed  a 
summer  at  Ispahan,  whither  he  was  now  proceeding. 

Although  little  inclined  to  talk,  in  the  melancholy  mood  in 

(231) 


232  THE    ADVENTURES    OF    IIAJJI    BABA. 

which  my  mind  had  been  plunged,  still  I  could  not  refrain  in 
some  measure  from  catching  the  exhuberance  of  spirits  with 
which  my  companion  seemed  to  overflow,  and  I  also  gave  him 
an  account  of  myself  since  the  day  I  left  Meshed,  with  Dervish 
Sefer,  when  I  had  just  recovered  from  the  bastinado  on  the 
soles  of  ray  feet. 

As  I  proceeded  in  my  narrative,  showing  him  how,  step  by 
step,  I  had  advanced  in  station  and  dignity,  it  was  amusing  to 
see  with  what  increased  reverence  he  treated  me.  At  length, 
when  I  came  to  my  promotion  to  the  rank  of  sub-lieutenant  to 
the  chief  executioner,  I  verily  believe  that  he  would  have  pros- 
trated himself  before  me,  with  such  extreme  respect  had  ex- 
perience taught  him  to  treat  gentlemen  of  that  profession.  But 
when  he  heai'd  the  sequel  of  my  story  ;  how  for  a  woman  I  had 
abandoned  my  high  situation  and  all  the  prospects  of  advance- 
ment which  it  held  out  to  me  ;  I  perceived  the  low  estimation 
to  which  I  fell  in  his  opinion.  He  exclaimed  that  I  was  not 
worthy  of  the  kalaat  (the  dress  of  distinction,)  which  fortune 
had  cut  out,  fashioned,  and  invested  me  with.  "  So,  because 
the  Shah  thinks  it  fitting  to  destroy  a  faithless  slave,"  said  he, 
"in  whose  guilt  you  have  at  most  only  half  the  share,  you  think 
it  necessary  to  abandon  the  excellent  station  in  life  to  which 
you  had  reached,  and  to  begin  again  the  drudgery  of  an  exist- 
ence lower  and  more  uncertain  than  even  the  one  which  I  en- 
joy. Well,"  (making  a  pause,)  "there  is  no  accounting  for 
the  difiTerent  roads  which  men  take  in  their  search  after  happi- 
ness :  some  keep  the  high  road  ;  some  take  short  cuts  ;  others 
strike  out  new  paths  for  themselves  ;  and  others  again  permit 
themselves  to  be  led  on  without  asking  the  road :  but  I  never 
yet  heard  of  one,  but  yourself,  who,  having  every  road  and 
every  path  thrown  open  to  him,  preferred  losing  his  way,  with 
the  risk  of  never  again  finding  it."  And  then  he  finished  by 
quoting  a  reflection  of  the  poet  Ferdusi,  applicable  to  the  un- 
certainty of  a  soldier's  life,  by  way  of  consoling  me  for  the  vicis- 
situdes of  mine,  saying,  ^^Gahi  pusht  her  zeen  gain  zeen  her 
puslit,^''  (sometimes  the  saddle  bears  the  weight  of  his  back,  and 
sometimes  his  back  the  weight  of  a  saddle.) 

Wliilst  we  were  conversing,  a  caravan  appeared  on  the  road 
from  Ispahan,  and  making  straight  for  the  caravanserai,  took 
up  its  abode  there  for  the  night." 

"  Come,"  said  the  dervish,  who  was  a  merry,  sociable  fellow, 
"come,  forget  your  sorrows  for  the  present;  we  will  pass  an 
agreeable  evening,  notwithstanding  we  are  in  the  midst  of  this 
dreary  and  thirsty  desert.  Let  us  get  together  the  travelers, 
the  merchants,  and  the  mule-drivers  who  compose  the  caravan, 


AN    OLD    FRIEND    AND    HIS    ADVICE.  233 

and  after  we  have  well  supped  and  smoked,  I  will  relate  to  you 
a  story  that  has  recently  happened  at  Staniboul,  and  which  I 
am  sure  cannot  yet  have  been  imported  into  Persia." 

Most  willingly  did  I  accede  to  his  proposal ;  for  I  was  happy 
to  drive  melancholy  from  my  thoughts  at  any  rate,  and  we 
strolled  into  the  building  together. 

Here  we  found  men  from  difierent  parts  of  Persia,  unloading 
their  beasts  and  putting  their  effects  in  ordei',  settling  them- 
selves in  the  different  open  rooms  which  look  upon  the  square 
of  the  caravanserai.  A  dervish,  and  a  storyteller  too,  was  a 
great  acquisition  to  them,  after  the  fatigue  and  dullness  of  a  jour- 
ney across  the  Salt  Desert ;  and  when  we  had  made  a  hearty 
meal,  he  collected  them  on  the  square  platform  in  the  middle 
of  the  court,  making  them  sit  round,  whilst  he  took  his  station 
in  the  midst.     lie  then  related  his  promised  story. 

I  endeavored  to  pay  every  attention  to  it ;  but  I  found  that 
my  mind  so  constantly  strayed  from  the  narrative  to  the  scenes 
I  had  lately  witnessed,  that  it  became  impossible  for  me  to  re- 
tain what  he  said.  I  remarked,  however,  that  he  interested  his 
audience  in  the  highest  degree  ;  for  when  plunged  in  one  of  my 
deepest  reveries,  I  was  frequently  roused  by  the  laughter  and 
applause  which  the  dervish  excited.  I  promised  myself  on  some 
future  occasion  to  make  him  relate  it  over  again,  and  in  the 
meanwhile  continue  to  give  myself  up  wholly  to  my  feelings  of 
misery.  Much  did  I  envy  the  apparent  light-heartedoess  that 
pervaded  my  companions,  and  which  at  intervals  made  the 
vaulted  rooms  of  the  building  resound  with  shouts  of  merri- 
ment. I  longed  for  the  time  when  I  should  again  be  like  them, 
and  enjoy  the  blessings  of  existence  without  care  ;  but  grief, 
like  every  other  passion,  must  have  its  course,  and,  as  the 
spring  which  gushes  with  violence  from  the  rock,  by  degrees 
dwindles  into  a  rivulet,  so  it  must  be  let  to  pass  off  gradually 
until  it  become  a  moderate  feeling,  and  at  length  is  lost  in  the 
vortex  of  the  world. 

Day  had  closed  by  the  time  that  the  dervish  had  finished  his 
^story.  The  blue  vault  of  heaven  was  completely  furnished  with 
bright  twinkling  stars,  which  seemed  to  have  acquired  a  fresh 
brilliancy  after  the  storms  of  the  preceding  night ;  and  the  moon 
was  preparing  to  add  her  soft  lustre  to  the  scene,  when  a  horse- 
man, fully  equipped,  entered  the  porch  that  leads  into  the 
caravanserai. 

The  principal  persons  of  the  caravan  had  still  kept  their  sta- 
tion on  the  platform,  quietly  smoking  their  yjipes,  and  discuss- 
ing the  merits  of  the  tale  they  had  just  heard  ;  the  servants  had 
dispersed  to  spread  their  master's  beds  ;  and  the  muleteers  had 
20-^ 


234  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

retired  for  the  night  to  nestle  in  among  their  ranles  and  their 
baggage  :  I,  destitute  of  everything,  had  made  up  my  mind  to 
pass  my  night  on  the  bare  ground  with  a  stone  for  my  pillow ; 
but  when  I  looked  at  the  horseman,  as  he  emerged  from  the 
darkness  of  the  porch  into  the  light,  my  ideas  took  another 
turn. 

I  recognized  in  him  one  of  the  Nasakchies,  who  under  my 
orders  had  witnessed  the  death  of  the  wretched  Zeenab  ;  and  I 
very  soon  guessed  what  the  object  of  his  journey  might  be, 
when  I  heard  him  ask,  if  the  caravan  was  coming  from,  or 
going  to  Tehran ;  and  whether  they  had  seen  a  person, 
who,  by  the  description  he  gave,  I  instantly  recognized  to  be 
myself. 

My  friend,  the  dervish,  immediately  divined  how  the  matter 
stood  ;  and  deeply  versed  in  every  stratagem  of  deceit,  without 
hesitation  took  upon  himself  to  answer  for  the  whole  company. 

He  said,  that  all  were  going  to  the  capital,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  himself  and  his  friend,  who,  both  dervishes,  were  just 
arrived  from  Constantinople ;  but  that  he  had  met  one  answer- 
ing to  the  person  he  had  described,  one  who  seemed  oppressed 
with  care,  and  worn  with  grief,  wandering  about  in  a  sort  of 
chance  manner  thi-ough  the  wilds  of  the  desert.  He  added 
many  more  particulars  which  corresponded  so  entirely  to  my 
appearance  and  history,  that  the  horseman  could  not  doubt  for 
a  moment  but  that  this  was  the  person  he  was  in  search  of,  and 
rode  off  in  great  haste  according  to  the  directions  of  the  der- 
vish, who,  as  may  be  imagined,  purposely  led  him  wrong. 

When  he  had  been  gone  some  time,  the  dervish  took  me  on 
one  side,  and  said,  "  if  you  want  to  secure  yourself  from  this 
man,  you  must  instantly  depart ;  for  when  he  finds  his  search 
fruitless,  and  is  tired  of  wandering  about  the  desert,  he  will 
certainly  return  here,  and  then  what  can  hinder  your  being  dis- 
covered ?" 

"  I  will  do  anything  rather  than  be  discovered  by  him,"  said 
I :  "he  is  evidently  sent  to  seize  me.  I  can  expect  no  mercy 
from  such  a.  rufifian,  particularly  as  I  have  not  enough  money  to 
offer  him,  for  I  know  his  price.     Where  can  I  go  ?" 

The  dervish  reflected  awhile,  and  said,  "You  must  go  to 
Kom  :  you  will  reach  it  before  morning,  and  as  soon  as  you 
arrive  there,  lose  not  a  moment  in  getting  within  the  precincts 
of  the  sanctuary  of  the  tomb  of  Fatimeh.  You  will  then,  and 
not  till  then,  lae  safe,  even  from  the  Shah's  power.  Should 
you  be  caught  without  its  walls,  there  is  no  hope  for  you.  You 
will  be  seized ;  and  then  may  Allah  take  vou  into  his  holy 
keeping  !" 


AN    OLD    FRIEND    AND    HIS    ADVICE.  235 

"  But  when  I  am  there,"  said  I,  "  what  shall  I  do  ?  bow 
shall  I  live  ?" 

"Leave  that  to  me,"  said  the  dervish  ;  "I  shall  soon  over- 
take you,  and  as  I  know  the  place  and  many  of  the  people  in  it, 
i7ishallah,  please  God,  you  will  not  fare  so  ill  as  you  may 
imagine.  I  myself  was  once  obliged  to  do  the  same  thing,  for 
having  been  the  means  of  procuring  poison  for  one  of  the 
Shah's  women,  who  used  it  to  destroy  a  rival.  Orders  were 
sent  to  seize  me,  and  I  managed  to  reach  the  bust  (the  refuge 
seat)  at  Shahabdul  Azim  just  five  minutes  before  the  execn- 
tioner  who  was  to  have  apprehended  me.  1  never  fared  better 
in  my  life  :  for  I  did  nothing ;  I  was  supported  by  the  charity 
of  those  who  came  to  say  their  prayers  at  the  shrine  of  the 
saint:  and  the  women,  who  constantly  came  thus  far  to  pray 
and  take  their  pleasure,  always  contrived  to  comfort  me  in  my 
confinement.  The  only  evil  you  have  to  fear  is  an  order  from 
the  Shah,  that  no  one  on  pain  of  death  shall  give  you  food  : 
if  so,  you  will  be  starved  into  a  surrender,  and  then  the  Pro- 
phet be  your  protector !  But  your  case  is  not  one  of  sufficient 
consequence  to  make  you  fear  this.  The  Shah  cannot  care  so 
much  for  one  slave,  when  he  has  a  hundred  others  to  fill  her 
place.  After  all,  men  do  not  die  so  easily  as  we  Persians 
imagine.  Recollect  what  the  Sheikh  says,  '  clouds  and  wind, 
the  moon,  the  sun,  the  firmament,  (and  he  might  have  added 
dervishes,)  all  are  busied,  and  thou,  0  man,  mayest  obtain  thy 
bread  :  only  eat  it  not  in  neglect.'" 

"  I  am  not  the  man,"  said  I,  "  who  will  forget  your  kindness. 
Perhaps  my  fortune  may  again  be  on  the  rise,  and  then  I  will 
put  my  beard  into  your  hand.  You  know  Hajji  Baba  of  old, 
and  that  he  is  not  one  of  those  who  '  exposes  his  virtue  on  the 
palm  of  his  hand,  and  hides  his  vices  under  his  armpit.'  What 
I  was  at  Meshed,  the  same  I  am  now :  the  seller  of  adulterated 
smoke,  and  the  deputy  lieutenant  to  the  chief  executioner,  are 
one  and  the  same." 

"Well  then  go,"  said  the  dervish,  as  he  embraced  me,  "and 
God  be  with  you  !  Take  care  of  the  ghols  and  gins  as  you 
cross  the  Salt  Desert ;  and  again,  I  repeat,  may  Allah,  peace, 
and  safety  attend  you  I" 

As  the  day  broke  I  could  distinguish  the  gilt  cupola  of  the 
tomb,  at  a  considerable  distance  before  me  ;  and  this  beacon 
of  my  security  inspired  me  with  fresh  vigor  in  ray  solitary  march 
over  the  dreary  waste.  I  had  scarcely  reached  the  outskirts  of 
the  town  of  Kom,  before  I  perceived  the  horseman  at  some 
distance  behind,  making  the  best  of  his  way  in  search  of  me  ; 
and  therefore  I  looked  neither  right  nor  left  until  the  massive 


236  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

chain  that  hangs  across  the  principal  gateway  of  the  sanctuary 
was  phiced  between  myself  and  my  pursuer.  I  then  exclaimed, 
''  llliamd'Ulah!''''  Praises  to  Allah  I  O  Mahomed:  0  Ali  !  and 
kissing  the  threshold  of  the  tomb,  I  said  my  prayers  with  all 
the  fervency  of  one  who  having  escaped  a  tempest  has  got  safe 
into  port. 

I  had  scarcely  time  to  look  about  me  before  I  perceived  the 
Xasakchi  coming  towards  me.  He  accosted  me  with  a  cold 
salutation  of  peace,  and  then  said,  "  that  he  had  a  royal  order 
to  conduct  me  into  the  Shah's  presence  wherever  I  might  be 
found." 

I  told  him,  that,  with  all  reverence  for  his  firman,  it  was  my 
intention  to  avail  myself  of  the  acknowledged  privilege  of 
every  true  believer,  to  seek  refuge  at  the  shrine  of  the 
saint,  and  that,  of  course,  he  could  not  violate  it  by  dragging 
me  from  it.  "Besides,  this  is  the  favorite  seat  of  the  King 
of  Kings,"  said  I,  "and  he  respects  this  shrine  more  than  any 
other." 

"  What  shall  I  do  then,  Hajji  ?"  said  he.  "You  know  this 
is  not  written  in  the  order.  If  I  go  back  without  you,  perhaps 
the  Shah  may  cut  oS"  my  ears  instead  of  yours." 

^'  InshaUah  !  please  God,"  said  I. 

"  Please  God,  do  you  say  ?"  said  he  in  a  fury :  "  am  I  come 
all  this  way  that  men  should  call  me  ass  ?  I  am  not  a  man  if 
I  do  not  make  you  return  with  me."  And  forthwith  we  began 
to  wrangle  to  such  a  degree,  that  several  of  the  priests, 
attached  to  the  endowment,  came  from  their  rooms  to  inquire 
into  the  cause  of  the  disturbance. 

"Here  is  one,"  exclaimed  I,  "who  presumes  to  violate  the 
sanctuary.  I  have  taken  refuge  in  it,  and  he  talks  of  forcing 
me  away!  You,  that  are  men  of  God,"  addressing  myself 
to  the  mollahs,  "  speak  and  say  whether  you  will  allow  this  ?" 

They  all  took  my  part.  "  This  is  unheard  of,"  said  they, 
"  in  Persia.  If  you  dare  to  take  one  from  the-  bust,  you  will 
not  only  have  the  vengeance  of  the  saint  on  your  head,  but  the 
whole  corps  of  the  Ullemah  will  be  upon  you  ;  and  be  you  pro- 
tected by  the  King  of  Kings,  or  the  king  of  demons,  nothing 
can  screen  you  from  their  fury." 

The  Nasakchi  remained  quite  uncertain  what  to  do,  and  at 
length,  softening  his  tone,  he  endeavored  to  make  a  virtue  of 
necessity,  and  began  to  negotiate  with  me  upon  what  he  might 
get  if  he  went  away  without  further  molesting  me. 

I  did  not  deny  the  right  he  had  of  being  paid  for  his 
trouble,  for  it  was  precisely  what  I  should  have  expected  myself 
had  I  been  in  his  place ;  but  I  made  him  recollect  how  little  I 


LIFE    IX    A    MONASTERY.  23t 

was  able  to  requite  him ;  for  he  he  knew  as  well  as  I  all  the 
circumstances  of  my  flight,  and  that  I  had  brought  nothing 
away  with  me  from  Tehran. 

He  suggested  that  I  might  give  him  what  effects  I  had 
left  behind  me ;  to  which  I  did  not  in  the  least  agree,  but  re- 
commended him  to  go  whence  he  came,  and  to  leave  the  afflicted 
to  their  miseries. 

The  fact  is,  as  I  afterwards  found  out,  the  rogue  had  already 
taken  possession  of  my  property,  which  consisted  of  clothes, 
trunks,  bedding,  horse-furniture,  pipes,  &c.,  having  himself 
been  the  cause  of  denouncing  me  to  the  Shah.  He  had 
watched  the  effect  which  the  murderous  death  of  the  unhappy 
Curd  had  produced  upon  me,  and  immediately  had  laid  his 
plan  for  my  destruction,  and  for  stepping  into  my  situation. 

Finding  that  he  could  not  exert  the  power  which  had  been 
vested  in  him,  and  that  his  firman  was  so  much  waste  paper,  as 
long  as  I  continued  to  hold  fast  to  my  refuge-place,  he  thought 
it  best  to  return  to  Tehran ;  but  in  so  doing,  he  delivered  his 
powers  into  the  hands  of  the  governor  of  the  town,  with  strict 
injunctions  to  keep  watch  over  my  actions,  and  in  case  I 
stirred  from  the  sanctuary,  to  seize  and  send  me  a  prisoner  to 
the  seat  of  government. 


CHAPTER  XLV. 

LIFE    IN    A    MONASTERY. 

I  HAD  scarcely  got  rid  of  the  Nasakchi,  when  I  heard  the 
voice  of  my  friend  the  dervish,  who  was  announcing  his  arrival 
in  the  holy  city,  by  all  the  different  invocations  of  the  Al- 
mighty and  his  attributes,  which  are  frequently  made  by  true 
believers. 

Very  soon  after,  I  was  delighted  to  see  him  coming  towards 
me,  and  to  hear  him  express  his  satisfaction  that  I  had  reached 
my  resting-place  before  my  pursuer  had  had  time  to  come  up 
with  me. 

He  proposed  to  keep  me  company  for  a  short  time,  and  we 
took  possession  of  one  of  the  cells  situated  in  the  square  court 
forming  part  of  the  buildings  in  the  centre  of  which  the  tomb 
is  placed.  I  had  by  good  luck  brought  away  my  ready  money, 
consisting  of  twenty  tomauns  in  gold,  besides  some  silver ;  and 


238  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

we  expended  some  of  this  in  articles  of  the  first  necessity,  such 
as  a  mat  to  cover  the  bare  floor  of  our  room,  and  an  earthen 
jug  for  our  water. 

But  before  we  had  got  any  further  in  our  domestic  arrange- 
ments, the  dervish  accosted  me  in  the  following  manner : 

"I  must  be  informed  of  one  thing  before  we  proceed.  Do 
you  ever  say  your  prayers  ? — do  you  keep  your  fasts  ? — do  you 
make  your  ablutions  regularly  ?  or,  do  you  continue  to  live  in 
that  fit  state  for  eternal  perdition,  which  we  were  wont  to  do  at 
Meshed  ?" 

"  Why  do  you  speak  thus  to  me  ?"  said  I.  "  What  can  it  be 
to  you  whether  I  pray  or  not  ?" 

"It  is  not  much  to  me,"  answered  the  dervish,  "but  it  is  a 
great  deal  to  yourself.  This  Kom  is  a  place  where,  excepting 
on  the  subject  of  religion,  and  settling  who  are  worthy  of  salva- 
tion and  who  to  be  damned,  no  one  opens  his  lips.  Every  man 
you  meet  is  either  a  descendant  of  the  Prophet  or  a  man  of  the 
law.  All  wear  long  and  mortified  faces,  and  seem  to  look  upon 
that  man  as  an  appointed  subject  for  the  eternal  fires, who  hap- 
pens to  have  a  rosy  cheek  and  a  laughing  eye.  Therefore  as 
soon  as  I  approach  the  place,  I  always  change  the  atmosphere 
of  my  countenance  from  fair  to  haze,  and  from  haze  to  down- 
right clouds  and  darkness,  according  as  circumstances  may  re- 
quire. My  knees,  which  scarcely  ever  touch  the  praying  carpet, 
now  perform  their  functions  five  good  times  per  day  ;  and  I,  who 
in  any  other  place  never  consult  any  hebleli^  but  that  of  my  own 
pleasure  and  inclinations,  now  know  the  direction  of  the  true 
one,  as  well  as  I  know  the  way  to  my  mouth-" 

"  All  this  is  very  well,  "  said  I ;  "  but  what  may  be  the  use 
of  it  ?  I  am  a  Mussulman,  'tis  true,  but  to  such  a  pitch  as  this — 
uo,  never." 

"The  use?"  answered  the  dervish.  "The  use  is  this;  that  it 
will  save  you  from  being  starved  or  stoned  to  death.  These 
priests  will  hearken  to  no  raediu'to, — either  you  are  a  true  be- 
liever or  you  are  not.  If  they  were  to  have  the  least  suspicion 
that  you  doubted  any  one  of  the  articles  of  the  faith, — that  you 
did  not  look  upon  the  Koran  as  a  living  miracle,  and  did  not 
read  it  with  becoming  reverence,  whether  you  understand  or 
not, — they  would  soon  show  you  what  power  they  possess.  And 
if  they  were  to  suppose  you  to  be  a  suji,  (a  free  thinker,)  by  the 
death  of  your  father  and  mother,  they  would  tear  you  into  little 
pieces  and  then  feel  contented  that  they  had  got  on  another 
post  on  the  high  road  to  paradise.     Perhaps,  friend  Hajji,  you 

*  i.  e.  Mecca,  to  which  all  Mahomedaus  point  in  their  prayers. 


LIFE   IN    A   MONASTERY.  239 

do  not  know  that  this  ia  the  residence  of  the  celebrated  Mirza 
Abdul  Cossim,  the  first  mushtehed  (divine)  of  Persia,  a  man  who, 
if  he  were  to  give  himself  suificient  stir,  would  make  the  people 
believe  any  doctrine  that  he  might  choose  to  promulgate.  Such 
is  his  influence,  that  many  believe  he  could  even  subvert  the  au- 
thority of  the  Shah  himself,  and  make  his  subjects  look  upon  his 
firmans  as  worthless,  as  so  much  waste  paper.  But  the  truth  is 
he  is  a  good  man ;  and  except  stoning  his  sitfi,  and  holding 
us  wandering  dervishes  as  the  dirt  under  his  feet,  I  know  of  no 
fault  in  him." 

Having  heard  him  out,  I  agreed  that,  however  I  might  deplore 
the  want  of  habit  ift-my  religious  duties,  yet,  situated  as  I  was, 
it  was  necessary  that  I  should  acquire  them,  in  order  to  be  held 
in  proper  estimation  by  the  great  authorities,  under  whose  eye 
I  was  immediately  placed ;  and  forthwith  I  set  about  saying  my 
prayers  and  making  my  ablutions,  as  if  ray  very  existence  de- 
pended upon  my  regularity.  Indeed  what  I  had  formerly  looked 
upon  as  irksome  ceremony,  now  became  an  agreeable  pastime, 
and  helped  greatly  to  soften  the  tedium  of  my  melancholy  life. 
I  never  omitted  to  rise  at  the  first  call ;  to  make  my  ablutions 
at  the  cistern, — using  all  the  forms  of  the  strictest  shiah, — and 
then  to  pray  in  the  most  conspicuous  spot  I  could  find.  The 
intonations  of  my  Allah  ho  akhar  were  to  be  heard  in  each  cor- 
ner of  the  tomb,  and  I  hoped  they  came  to  the  ear  of  every  in- 
habitant of  it.  No  face  wore  a  more  mortified  appearance  than 
mine  :  even  the  dervish,  who  was  the  best  mimic  possible,  could 
not  beat  me  in  the  downcast  eye,  the  hypocritical  ejaculations, 
the  affected  tacituruity  of  the  sour,  proud,  and  bigoted  man  of 
the  law. 

It  became  known  that  I  was  a  refugee  at  the  sanctuary;  and 
I  very  soon  discovered  the  advantages  which  the  dervish  had 
promised  me,  from  taking  upon  me  the  airs  of  the  place,  and  as- 
suming the  character  of  a  rigid  Mussulman.  He  spread  abroad 
the  history  of  my  misfortune, — of  course  much  to  my  advan- 
tage,— giving  me  out  for  one  who  was  suffering  for  the  sins  of 
another,  and  asserting  that  the  doctor  ought,  in  fact  to  have 
been  the  sufferer. 

I  became  acquainted  with  the  principal  personages  of  the 
town,  who  were  agreed  that  they  had  never  known  a  better 
model  of  a  true  believer  than  I ;  and  had  I  not  been  confined 
to  the  walls  of  the  sanctuary,  it  was  in  contemplation  to  have 
made  me  apeish  namaz  (a  leader  of  the  prayers)  at  their  reli- 
gious meetings  in  the  mosque.  I  found  that  the  profound 
taciturnity  which  I  had  adopted  was  the  best  help  towards  the 
establishment  of  a  high  reputation  for  wisdom ;  and  that,  by 


240  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA, 

the  help  of  my  beads, — which  I  kept  constantly  counting, — a 
mumble  of  my  lips,  and  occasional  groans  and  pious  exclama- 
tions, the  road  to  the  highest  consideration  was  open  to  me. 

My  dei'vish  and  I  lived  almost  free  of  expense,  so  plentifully 
were  we  supplied  with  food.  The  women  in  particular,  did  not 
lose  an  opportunity  of  bringing  me  presents  of  fruit,  honey, 
bread,  and  other  necessaries,  for  which  I  repaid  them  with  kind 
thanks,  and  now  and  then  with  a  talisman,  written  with  my 
own  hand. 

But  although  our  life  was  one  of  ease,  yet  it  was  so  dull,  and 
so  void  of  incident,  that  even  the  spirits  of  ray  companion 
began  to  sink  under  it.  In  order  to  fill  tip  some  of  the  long 
hours  of  listlessness  which  oppressed  us,  I  encouraged  him  to 
recite  all  his  stories,  one  by  one,  not  forgetting  the  one  which  he 
had  related  with  so  much  effect  in  the  caravanserai  of  the  Sul- 
tan's Reservoir,  and  we  found  this  a  very  agreeable  mode  of 
closing  the  day. 

I  feel,  0  reader,  that  you  may  also  partake  of  that  same  dull- 
ness which  oppressed  me  ;  and  I  think  it  but  fair  that  I  should 
endeavour  to  dissipate  it,  in  the  same  manner  as  mine  was  by 
the  dervish, — therefore  I  will  repeat  the  story  which  he  related 
to  me ;  and,  whether  it  amuses  you  or  not,  yet  perhaps  you  will 
be  glad  to  know  how  the  mind  of  a  poor  prisoner,  in  the  sanc- 
tuary at  Kom,  was  diverted  from  its  miseries. 

STORY   OF   THE   BAKED    HEAD. 

"The  present  Khon-khor*  of  Roum  is  a  staunch  Mussulman, 
and  a  rigid  upholder  of  the  true  faith.  Upon  his  coming  to  the 
throne,  he  announced  his  intention  of  doing  away  with  many 
customs  common  to  the  infidels,  which  had  crept  into  the  ad- 
ministration of  the  state  during  the  reign  of  his  predecessor ; 
and  he  thought  it  his  duty  to  endeavour  to  restore  things  to 
their  primitive  simplicity,  and  to  adopt  a  mode  of  government 
purely  Turkish.  Accordingly,  he  resumed  a  custom  which  had 
almost  got  into  disuse, — that  of  going  about  the  city  in  tehdil, 
or  disguise  ;  and  he  was  so  cautious  about  the  disguises  which 
he  adopted,  and  the  people  whom  he  admitted  into  his  secrets 
on  these  occasions,  that  he  took  all  sorts  of  precautions,  and 
invented  all  sorts  of  schemes  of  secresy,  in  whatever  related  to 
his  dresses,  and  the  characters  in  which  he  choose  to  appear. 

"  It  is  not  long  ago  that  considerable  discontent  prevailed 
throughout  Turkey,  and  rebellion  threatened  to  break  out  in 

*  Khon-khor, — literally  "Blood  drinker;"  so  the  Sultan  of  Eoum  or  Turkey 
is  styled  in  Persia. 


LIFE    IN    A    MONASTERY.  241 

Constantinople  itself.  He  was  then  very  anxious  to  ascertain 
the  temper  of  the  public  mind  ;  and,  in  his  usual  cautious  man- 
ner, he  determined  to  get  a  dress  made  that  would  make  him 
undiscoverable  by  even  his  own  immediate  attendants. 

"  He  usually  sent  for  different  tailors  at  different  times,  and 
in  different  places,  and  made  them  make  up  dresses  for  him. 
On  this  occasion,  he  ordered  his  favorite  slave,  the  white  eunuch 
Mansouri,  to  bring  him  a  tailor  of  no  repute,  adopting  all  the 
necessary  precautions,  at  midnight,  in  order  that  he  might 
receive  instructions  about  a  dress. 

"  The  slave  in  great  humility  made  his  hash  ustun,  (on  my 
head  be  it,)  and  went  his  way  to  execute  the  command. 

"  Close  to  the  gate  of  the  Bezesten,  or  cloth-market,  he  saw 
an  old  man  in  a  stall,  so  narrow,  that  he  could  scarce  turn  him- 
self about  in  it,  who  was  taken  up  in  patching  an  old  cloak. 
He  was  almost  bent  double  with  constant  labor  at  his  shop- 
board  ;  and  his  eyes  seemed  not  to  have  benefited  by  his 
application,  for  a  pair  of  glasses  were  mounted  on  his  nose. 
'This  is  precisely  the  man  I  want,'  said  the  slave  to  himself:  'I 
am  sure  he  can  be  of  no  repute.'  So  intent  was  he  upon  his 
work,  that  he  did  not  heed  the  salutation  of  '  Peace  be  with 
you,  friend!'  with  which  Mansouri  accosted  him  ;  and  when  he 
did  look  up,  and  saw  the  well  dressed  personage  whom  he 
thought  had  spoken,  he  continued  his  work,  without  making 
the  usual  reply;  for  he  could  not  suppose  that  the  salutation  was 
meant  for  sucli  a  poor  devil  as  he. 

"However,  finding  that  he  was  the  object  of  the  eunuch's 
attention,  he  doffed  the  spectacles,  threw  away  his  work,  and 
was  about  getting  on  his  legs,  when  he  was  stopped,  and  re- 
quested not  to  disturb  himself. 

'"What  is  your  name?'  said  Mansouri. 

"'Abdallah,'  said  the  tailor,  'at  your  service;  but  I  am  gen- 
erally called  Babadul  by  my  friends,  and  the  world  at  large.' 

"  'You  are  a  tailor,  are  not  you  ?'  continued  the  slave. 

"'Yes,'  said  the  other,  'I  am  a  tailor  as  well  as  the  muezzin 
at  the  little  mosque  in  the  fish-market.     What  more  can  I  do  V 

"  'Well,  Babadul,'  said  Mansouri, '  have  you  a  mind  for  a  job, 
— a  good  job  ?' 

"'Am  I  a  fool,'  answered  the  old  man,  'that  I  should  dislike 
it?     Say  what  it  is.' 

"'Softly,  my  friend,'  remarked  the  eunuch;  'we  must  go  on 
slow  and  sure.  Will  you  suffer  yourself  to  be  led  blindfolded 
at  midnight  wherever  I  choose  to  take  you,  for  a  job  ?' 

"  '  That's  another  question,'  said  Babadul ;  '  times  are  critical, 
heads  fly  in  abundance,  and  a  poor  tailor's  may  go  as  well  as  a 
21 


242  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

vizier's  or  a  capitaa  pacha's.     But  pay  me  well,  and  I  believe  I 
would  make  a  suit  of  clothes  for  Eblis,  the  foul  fiend,  himself.' 

"  'Well,  then,  you  agree  to  my  proposal  ?'  said  the  eunuch, 
who  at  the  same  time  put  two  pieces  of  gold  in  his  hand. 

"  '  Yes,  most  surely,'  said  Babadul,  '  I  agree.  Tell  me  what 
I  am  to  do,  and  you  may  depend  upon  me.' 

"Accordingly,  they  settled  between  them  that  the  eunuch 
was  to  come  to  the  stall  at  midnight,  and  lead  him  away  blind- 
folded. 

"Babadul,  being  left  alone,  continued  his  work,  wondering 
what  could  be  the  job  upon  which  he  was  to  be  so  mysteriously 
employed  ;  and,  anxious  to  make  his  wife  a  partaker  of  the  news 
of  his  good  luck,  he  shut  up  his  stall  earlier  than  usual,  and 
went  to  his  house,  that  was  situated  not  far  from  the  little 
mosque  in  the  fish-market,  of  which  he  was  the  muezzin. 

"  Old  Dilferib,  his  wife,  was  almost  as  much  bent  double  as 
her  husband ;  and  in  consetpience  of  the  two  gold  pieces,  and 
in  contemplation  of  more  which  they  expected  to  receive,  they 
treated  themselves  to  a  dish  of  smoking  kabobs,  a  salad,  dried 
grapes,  and  sweetmeats,  after  which  they  consoled  themselves 
with  some  of  the  hottest  and  most  bitter  coffee  which  the  old 
woman  could  make. 

"  True  to  his  appointment,  Babadul  was  at  his  stall  at  mid- 
night, v.here  he  was  as  punctually  met  by  Mansouri.  Without 
any  words,  the  former  permitted  himself  to  be  blindfolded, 
whilst  the  latter  led  him  away  by  the  hand,  making  many  and 
devious  turns,  until  they  reached  the  imperial  seraglio ;  there, 
stopping  only  to  open  the  private  iron  gate,  Mansouri  intro- 
duced the  tailor  into  the  very  heart  of  the  Sultan's  private 
apartments.  The  bandage  over  his  eyes  was  taken  off  in  a  dark 
chamber,  lighted  up  only  by  a  small  lamp,  which  stood  on  the 
shelf  surrounding  the  top  of  the  room,  but  which  was  splendidly 
furnished  by  sofas  of  the  richest  brocade,  and  by  carpets  of  the 
most  costly  manufacture.  Here  Babadul  was  commanded  to 
sit,  until  Mansouri  returned  with  a  bundle  wrapped  in  a  large 
shawl  handkerchief;  this  being  opened,  a  sort  of  dervish's  dress 
was  displayed  to  the  tailor,  and  he  was  requested  to  look  at  it, 
to  consider  how  long  he  would  be  making  such  a  one,  and  then 
to  return  it  again,  duly  folded  up,  to  its  shawl  covering.  In 
the  meanwhile,  Mansouri  told  him  to  stay  there  until  he  should 
return  to  take  him  away  again,  and  then  left  hira. 

"Babadul,  having  turned  the  dress  over  and  over  again,  cal- 
culated each  stitch,  and  come  to  his  proper  conclusions,  packed 
it  up  in  the  handkerchief,  as  he  had  been  commanded  ;  but  no 
sooner  had  he  done  this,  than  a  man  of  lofty  demeanor  and 


LIFE   IK    A    MONASTERY.  243 

appearance,  whose  look  made  the  poor  tailor  shrink  within  him- 
self, came  into  the  room,  took  up  the  bundle,  and  walked  away 
with  it,  without  uttering  a  single  word. 

"A  few  minutes  after,  as  Babadul  was  pondering  over  the 
strangeness  of  his  situation,  and  just  recovering  from  the  effects 
of  this  apparition,  a  door  opened  in  another  part  of  the  apart- 
ment, and  a  mysterious  figure,  richly  dressed,  came  in,  bearing 
a  bundle,  equally  covered  with  a  shawl,  about  the  size  of  that 
which  had  just  been  taken  away  ;  and  making  the  lowest  pros- 
trations before  the  tailor,  in  great  apparent  trepidation,  ap- 
proached him,  placed  it  at  his  feet,  kissed  the  ground,  and 
retreated  without  saying  a  word,  or  even  looking  up. 

"  '  Well,'  said  Babadnl  to  himself,  '  this  may  be  something 
very  fine,  and  I  may  be  some  very  great  personage,  for  aught 
I  know ;  but  this  is  very  certain,  that  I  had  rather  be  patch- 
ing my  old  cloak  in  the  stall  than  doing  this  job,  however 
grand  and  lucrative  it  may  be.  Who  knows  what  I  may  have 
been  brought  here  for  ?  These  comings  in  and  goings  out  of 
strange  looking  people,  apparently  without  tongues  in  their 
heads,  does  not  argue  well.  I  wish  they  would  give  me  fewer 
bows  and  a  greater  supply  of  words,  from  which  I  might  learn 
what  I  am  to  get  by  all  this.  I  have  heard  of  poor  women 
having  been  sewn  up  in  sacks  and  thrown  into  the  sea.  Who 
knows  ?  perhaps  I  am  destined  to  be  the  tailor  on  such  an 
occasion.' 

"  He  had  scai'cely  got  thus  far  in  his  soliloquy,  when  the 
slave  Mansouri  re-entered  the  room,  and  told  him,  without  more 
words,  to  take  up  the  bundle  ;  which  having  done,  his  eyes 
were  again  blindfolded,  and  he  M'as  led  to  the  spot  from 
whence  he  came.  Babadul,  true  to  his  agreement,  asked  no 
questions,  but  agreed  with  the  slave  that  in  three  days  the 
dress  should  be  ready  for  delivery  at  his  stall,  for  which  he  was 
to  receive  ten  more  pieces  of  gold. 

"Having  got  rid  of  his  companion,  he  proceeded  with  all 
haste  to  his  house,  where  he  knew  his  wife  would  be  impatiently 
waiting  his  return  ;  and  as  he  walked  onwards  he  congratulated 
himself  that  at  length  he  had  succeeded  in  getting  indeed  a 
job  worth  the  having,  and  that  his  fate  had  linally  turned  up 
something  good  for  his  old  age.  It  was  about  two  o'clock  in 
the  morning  when  he  reached  the  door  of  his  house.  He  was 
received  by  his  wife  with  expressions  of  great  impatience  at 
his  long  absence ;  but  when  he  held  up  the  bundle  to  her  face, 
as  she  held  up  the  lamp  to  his,  and  when  he  said,  '■Mnjdeh, 
give  rac  a  reward  for  good   news: — see,  I  have  got  my  work, 


244  THE    ADVENTURES    OF    IIAJJI    BABA. 

and  a  handsome  reward  we  sliall  get  when  it  is  finished,'  she 
was  all  smiles  and  good  humor. 

"  '  Leave  it  there  till  we  get  up,  and  let  us  go  to  bed  now,' 
said  the  tailor. 

"  '  No,  no,'  said  the  wife,  '  I  must  look  at  what  you  have  got 
before  I  retire,  or  I  shall  not  be  able  to  sleep  :'  upon  which, 
whilst  he  held  up  the  lamp  she  opened  the  bundle.  Guess, 
guess  at  the  astonishment  of  the  tailor  and  his  wife,  when, 
instead  of  seeing  a  suit  of  clothes,  they  discovered,  wrapped 
in  a  napkin,  in  its  most  horrid  and  ghastly  state,  a  human 
head  1 

"  It  fell  from  the  old  woman's  hands,  and  rolled  away  some 
paces,  whilst  the  horroi'-struck  couple  first  hid  their  faces  with 
their  hands,  and  then  looked  at  each  other  with  countenances 
which  nothing  can  describe. 

"  '  Work  I'  cried  the  wife,  '  work,  indeed  I  pretty  work  you 
have  made  of  it !  Was  it  necessary  to  go  so  far  and  to 
take  such  precautions,  to  bring  this  misfortune  on  our  heads  ? 
Did  you  bring  home  this  dead  man's  head  to  make  a  suit  of 
clothes  of?' 

"'Anna  senna!  Baha  senna!  Curses  be  on  his  mother! 
Perdition  seize  his  father !'  exclaimed  the  poor  tailor,  'for 
bringing  me  into  this  dilemma.  My  heart  misgave  me  as  that 
dog  of  an  eunuch  talked  of  blindfoldings  and  silence  to  me  : 
I  thought,  as  true  as  I  am  a  Turk,  that  the  job  could  not 
consist  only  in  making  a  suit  of  clothes ;  and  sure  enough  this 
dog's  son  has  tacked  a  head  to  it.  Allah  !  Allah  1  what  am  I 
to  do  now  ?  I  know  not  the  way  to  his  home,  or  else  I  would 
take  it  back  to  him  immediately,  and  throw  it  in  his  face.  We 
shall  have  the  Bostangi  Bashi  and  an  hundred  other  Bashis 
here  in  a  minute,  and  we  shall  be  made  to  pay  the  price  of 
blood;  or,  who  knows,  be  hung,  or  drowned,  or  impaled  1 
What  shall  we  do,  eh,  Dilferib,  my  soul,  say  V 

"  '  Do  ?'  said  his  wife ;  '  get  rid  of  the  head,  to  be  sure : 
we  have  no  more  right  to  have  it  palmed  upon  us  than  anybody 
else.' 

" '  But  the  day  will  soon  dawn,'  said  the  tailor,  '  and  then  it 
will  be  too  late.     Let  us  be  doing  something  at  once.' 

"  'A  thought  has  struck  me,'  said  the  old  woman.  '  Our 
neighbor,  the  baker,  Hassan,  heats  his  oven  at  this  hour,  and 
begins  soon  after  to  bake  his  bread  for  his  morning's  customers. 
He  frequently  has  different  sorts  of  things  to  bake  from  the 
neighboring  houses,  which  are  placed  near  the  oven's  mouth 
over  night :  suppose  I  put  this  head  into  one  of  the  earthen  pots 
and  send  it  to  be  baked ;  nobody  will  find  it  out  until  it  is 


LIFE    IX    A    MONASTERY.  245 

done,  and  then  we  need  not  send  for  it,  so  it  will  remain  on  the 
baker's  hands.' 

"  Babadul  admired  his  wife's  sagacity,  and  forthwith  she  put 
her  plans  into  execution.  AYhen  the  head  had  been  placed  in  a 
baking-pan,  she  watched  a  moment  when  nobody  was  at  hand, 
and  set  it  on  the  ground,  in  the  same  row  with  the  other  arti- 
cles that  were  to  be  inserted  in  Hassan's  oven.  The  old 
couple  then  double-barred  the  door  of  their  house,  and  re- 
tired to  rest,  comforting  themselves  with  the  acquisition  of  the 
fine  shawl  and  napkin  in  which  the  head  had  been  wrapped. 

"  The  baker  Hassan  and  his  son  Mahmud  were  heating  their 
oven,  inserting  therein  thorns,  chips,  and  old  rubbish  at  a  great 
rate,  when  their  attention  was  arrested  by  the  extraordinary 
whinings  and  barking  of  a  dog,  that  was  a  constant  customer 
at  the  oven  for  stray  bits  of  bread,  and  much  befriended  by 
Hassan  and  his  son,  who  were  noted  for  being  conscientious 
Mussulmea. 

"'Look,  Mahmud,'  said  the  father  to  the  son,  'see  what 
is  the  matter  with  the  dog  :  something  extraordinary  is  in  the 
wind.' 

"  The  son  did  what  his  father  bade  him,  and  seeing  no  rea- 
son for  the  dog's  noises,  said,  '  Bir  chey  yoh,  there  is  nothing,' 
and  drove  him  away. 

"But  the  howling  not  ceasing,  Hassan  went  himself,  and 
found  the  dog  most  extremely  intent  upon  smelling  and  point- 
ing at  the  tailor's  pipkin.  He  jumped  npon  Hassan,  then  at 
the  pot,  then  upon  Hassan  again,  until  the  baker  no  longer 
doubted  that  the  beast  took  great  interest  in  its  contents.  He 
therefore  gently  drew  off  the  lid,  when  need  I  mention  his 
horror  and  surprise  at  seeing  a  human  head  staring  him  in  the 
face  ? 

"' Allah  1  Allah!'  cried  the  baker;  but  being  a  man  of 
strong  nerves,  instead  of  letting  it  fall,  as  most  people  would 
have  done,  he  quietly  put  on  the  lid  again,  and  called  his  son 
to  him. 

"  '  Mahmud,'  said  he,  '  this  is  a  bad  world,  and  there  are  bad 
men  in  it.  Some  wicked  infidel  has  sent  me  a  man's  liead  to 
bake ;  and  thanks  to  our  good  fortune,  and  to  the  dog,  our 
oven  has  been  saved  from  pollution,  and  we  can  go  on  making 
our  bread  with  clean  hands  and  clear  consciences.  But  since 
the  devil  is  at  work,  let  others  have  a  visit  from  him  as  well  as 
ourselves.  If  it  be  known  that  we  have  had  a  dead  man's 
head  to  bake,  who  will  ever  employ  us  again  ?  we  must  starve, 
we  must  shut  up  our  oven  ;  we  shall  get  the  reputation  of  mix- 
ing up  our  dough  with  human  grease,  and  if  perchance  a  hair 
21* 


246  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

is  found,  it  will  immediately  be  said  that  it  came  from  the  dead 
man's  beard.' 

"  Mahmud,  a  youth  of  about  twenty,  who  partook  of  his 
father's  insensibility  and  coolness,  and  who  moreover  had  a 
great  deal  of  dry  humor  and  ready  wit,  looked  upon  the  incident 
in  the  light  of  a  good  joke,  and  broke  out  into  a  hearty  laugh 
when  he  saw  the  ugly  picture  which  the  grinning  head  made, 
set  in  its  earthen  frame. 

"'Let  us  pop  it  into  the  shop  of  Kior  Ali,  the  barber, 
opposite,'  said  the  youth;  'he  is  just  beginning  to  open  it,  and 
as  he  has  but  one  eye,  we  shall  be  better  able  to  do  so  without 
being  seen.  Do,  father,'  said  Mahmud,  'let  me;  nobody  shall 
discover  me ;  and  let  it  be  done  before  there  is  more  daylight.' 

"  The  father  consented,  and  Mahmud  catching  the  moment 
when  the  barber  had  walked  to  the  corner  of  the  street  to  per- 
form certain  ablutions,  stept  into  his  shop,  and  placed  the  head 
on  a  sort  of  takcheh,  or  bracket  on  the  wall,  arranged  some  shav- 
ing towels  about  it,  as  if  it  had  been  a  customer  ready  seated  to 
be  shaved,  and,  with  a  boy's  mischief  in  his  heart,  stept  back  to 
his  oven  again,  to  watch  the  effects  which  this  new  sort  of  cus- 
tomer would  have  upon  the  blind  barber. 

"Kior  Ali  hobbled  into  his  shop,  which  was  but  ill  lighted 
by  a  glimmering  of  daylight  that  hardly  pierced  throughout  the 
oil-papered  windows,  and  looking  about  him,  saw  this  figure, 
as  he  supposed,  seated  against  the  wall  ready  to  be  operated 
upon. 

"'Ha!  peace  be  unto  you!' said  he  to  it:  'you  are  rather 
early  this  morning;  I  did  not  see  you  at  first.  My  water  is  not 
yet  hot.  Oh,  I  see  you  want  your  head  shaved  !  but  why  do  you 
take  off  your  fese  (skull-cap)  so  soon  ?  you  will  catch  ~cold.' 
Then  he  paused.  '  No  answer,'  said  the  barber  to  himself.  '  I 
suppose  he  is  dumb,  and  deaf  too  perhaps.  Well,  I  am  half 
blind  ;  so  we  are  nearly  upon  equal  terras  :  however,  if  I  were 
even  to  lose  my  other  eye,'  addressing  himself  to  the  head,  '  I 
dare  say,  my  old  uncle,  I  could  shave  you  for  all  that ;  for  my 
razor  would  glide  as  naturally  over  your  head,  as  a  draught  of 
good  wine  does  over  my  throat. 

"  He  went  methodically  about  his  preparations :  he  took  down 
his  tin  basin  from  a  peg,  prepared  his  soap,  then  stropped  his 
razor  on  the  long  bit  of  leather  that  was  fastened  to  his  girdle. 
Having  made  his  lather,  he  walked  up  to  the  supposed  custo- 
mer, holding  the  basin  in  his  left  hand,  whilst  his  right  was 
extended  to  sprinkle  the  first  preparation  of  water  on  the  sconce. 
No  sooner  had  he  placed  his  hand  on  the  cold  head,  than  he 
withdrew  it,  as  if  he  had  been   burnt.     '  Eh  !   why,  what's  the 


LIFE    IN    A    MONASTERY.  24Y 

matter  with  you  friend  ?'  said  the  barber  :  '  you  are  as  cold  as  a 
piece  of  ice.'  But  when  he  attempted  a  second  time  to  lather 
it,  down  it  came  with  a  terrible  bounce  from  the  shelf  to  the 
floor,  and  made  the  poor  shaver  jump  quite  across  his  shop  with 
the  fright. 

"'AmanI  aman  !  O  mercy,  mercy!'  cried  Kior  Ali,  as  he 
thrust  himself  into  the  furthermost  corner  without  daring  to 
move  :  '  take  my  shop,  my  razors,  my  towels, — take  all  I  have  ; 
but  don't  touch  my  life  I  If  you  are  the  Sheitan,  speak ;  but 
excuse  my  shaving  you  !' 

But  when  he  found  that  all  was  hushed  after  the  catastrophe, 
and  that  nothing  was  to  be  feared,  he  approached  the  head,  and 
taking  it  up  by  the  lock  of  hair  at  the  top,  he  looked  at  it  in 
amazement.  'A  head,  by  all  the  Imams  I' said  he,  accosting 
it :  '  and  how  did  you  get  here  !  Do  you  want  to  disgrace  me, 
you  filthy  piece  of  flesh  ?  but  you  shall  not !  Although  Kior 
Ali  has  lost  one  eye,  yet  his  other  is  a  sharp  one,  and  knows 
what  it  is  about.  I  would  give  you  to  the  baker  Hassan  there, 
if  his  rogue  of  a  son,  who  is  now  looking  this  way,  was  not 
even  sharper  than  this  self-same  eye ;  but  now  I  think  of  it,  I 
will  take  you  where  you  can  do  no  harm.  The  Giaour  Yanaki, 
the  Greek  Kabohcld,'^  (roast  meat  man,)  shall  have  you,  and 
shall  cut  you  up  into  mincemeat  for  his  infidel  customers.'  Upon 
this,  Kior  Ali,  drawing  in  one  hand,  in  which  he  carried  the  head, 
through  the  slit  on  the  sides  of  his  beniche,  or  cloak,  and  taking 
up  his  pipe  in  the  other,  walked  down  two  streets  to  the  shop 
of  the  aforesaid  Greek. 

He  frequented  it  in  preference  to  that  of  a  Mussulman,  be- 
cause he  could  here  drink  wine  with  impunity.  From  long 
practice  be  knew  precisely  where  the  provision  of  fresh  meat 
was  kept,  and  as  he  entered  the  shop,  casting  his  eye  furtively 
round,  he  threw  the  head  in  a  dark  corner,  behind  one  of  the 
large  sides  of  a  sheep  that  was  to  be  used  for  the  kabobs  of 
the  day.  ISTo  one  saw  him  perform  this  feat ;  for  the  morning 
was  still  sufficiently  obscure  to  screen  him.  He  lighted  his 
pipe  at  the  Yanaki's  charcoal  fire,  and  as  a  pretext  for  his  visit, 
ordered  a  dish  of  meat  to  be  sent  to  him  for  breakfast ;  a  treat 
to  which  he  thought  himself  fully  entitled  after  his  morning's 
adventure. 

"  Yanaki,  meanwhile,  having  cleaned  his  platters,  put  his 
skewers  in  order,  lit  his  fires,  made  his  sherbets,  and  swept  out 
his  shop,  went  to  the  larder  for  some  meat  for  the  shaver's 

*  The  kahoh  shops  a.i  Constantinople  are  eating  houses,  where  at  a  moment's 
notice  a  dish  of  roast  meat,  anil  small  hits  of  meat  done  on  skewers,  are  served 
up  to  vyhoeyer  asks  for  them. 


248  THE    ADVENTURES    OF    HAJJI    BABA. 

breakfast.  Yanaki  was  a  true  Greek : — cnniiing,  cautious, 
deceitful ;  cringing  to  his  superiors,  tyrannical  towards  his  in- 
feriors ;  detesting  with  a  mortal  hatred  his  proud  masters,  the 
Osmanlies,  yet  fawning,  flattering,  and  abject  whenever  any  of 
them,  however  low  in  life,  deigned  to  take  notice  of  him.  Turn- 
ing over  his  stock,  he  looked  about  for  some  old  bits  that  might 
serve  the  present  purpose,  muttering  to  himself,  that  any  carrion 
was  good  enough  for  a  Turk's  stomach.  He  surveyed  his  half 
sheep  from  top  to  bottom  ;  felt  it,  and  said,  '  No,  this  will  keep  ; 
but  as  he  turned  up  his  fat  tail,  the  eye  of  the  dead  man's  head 
caught  his  eye,  and  made  him  start,  and  step  back  some  paces. 
'As  ye  love  your  eyes,'  exclaimed  he,  'who  is  there?'  Receiv- 
ing no  answer,  he  looked  again,  and  again ;  then  nearer, — then, 
thrusting  his  hand  among  sheep's  heads  and  trotters,  old  remnants 
of  meat,  and  the  like,  he  pulled  out  the  head — the  horrid  head 
— which  he  held  extended  at  arm's  length,  as  if  he  were  afraid 
that  it  would  do  him  mischief,  'Anathemas  attend  your  beard!' 
exclaimed  Yanaki,  as  soon  as  he  discovered,  by  the  tuft  of  hair 
on  the  top,  that  it  had  belonged  to  a  Mussulman,  '  Och  !  if  I 
had  but  every  one  of  your  heads  in  this  manner,  ye  cursed  race 
of  Omar  I  I  would  make  kabobs  of  them,  and  every  cur  in  Con- 
stantinople should  get  fat  for  nothing.  May  ye  all  come  to 
this  end  !  May  the  vultures  feed  on  your  carcasses  !  and  may 
every  Greek  have  the  good  fortune  which  has  befallen  me 
this  day,  of  having  one  of  your  worthless  skulls  for  his  football  1' 
Upon  which,  in  his  rage,  he  threw  it  down  and  kicked  it  from 
him  ;  but,  recollecting  himself,  he  said,  '  But,  after  all,  what 
shall  I  do  with  it  ?  If  it  is  seen  here,  I  am  lost  for  ever :  nobody 
will  believe  but  what  I  have  killed  a  Turk.' 

"  All  of  a  sudden  he  cried  out,  in  a  sort  of  malicious  ecstasy, 
'  'Tis  well  I  remembered, — the  Jew  1  the  Jew  ! — a  properer 
place  for  such  a  head  was-  never  thought  or  heard  of ;  and  there 
you  shall  go,  thou  vile  remnant  of  a  Mohamedan  !' 

"  Upon  which  he  seized  it,  and  hiding  it  under  his  coat,  ran 
with  it  down  the  street  to  where  the  dead  body  of  a  Jew  lay 
extended,  with  its  head  placed  immediately  between  its  legs. 

"  'In  Turkey,  you  must  know,'  said  the  dervish,  'when  a 
Mohamedan  is  beheaded,  his  head  is  placed  under  his  arm, 
by  way  of  an  honorable  distinction  from  the  Christian  or  Jew, 
who,  when  a  similar  misfortune  befalls  them,  have  theirs  inserted 
between  their  legs,  as  close  to  the  seat  of  dishonor  as  possible. 

"  It  was  in  that  situation  then,  that  Yanaki  placed  the  Turk's 
head,  putting  it  as  near,  cheek  by  jowl,  with  the  Jew's,  as  the 
hurry  of  the  case  would  allow.  He  had  been  able  to  effect  this 
without  being  seen,  because  the  day  was  still  but  little  advanced, 


LIFE    IN    A    MONASTERY,  249 

and  no  one  stirring  ;  and  he  returned  to  his  shop,  full  of  exulta- 
tion at  having  been  able  to  discharge  his  feelings  of  hatred 
against  his  oppressors,  by  placing  one  of  their  heads  on  the 
spot  in  nature,  which,  according  to  his  estimation,  was  the  most 
teeming  with  opprobrium. 

"  The  unfortunate  sufferer  on  this  occasion  had  been  accused 
of  stealing  and  putting  to  death  a  Mohamedan  child,  (a  cere- 
mony in  their  religion,  which  they  have  been  known  to  prac- 
tise both  in  Turkey  and  Persia,)  and  which  created  such  an  ex- 
traordinary tumult  among  the  mob  of  Constantinople,  that,  in 
order  to  appease  it,  he  had  been  decapitated.  His  execution 
had  taken  place  purposely  before  the  door  of  a  wealthy  Greek, 
and  the  body  was  ordered  to  remain  there  three  days  iDefore  it 
was  permitted  to  be  carried  away  for  interment.  The  expec- 
tation that  the  Greek  would  be  induced  to  pay  down  a  hand- 
some sum,  in  order  that  this  nuisance  might  be  removed  from 
his  door,  and  save  him  from  the  ill  luck  which  such  an  object 
is  generally  supposed  to  bring,  made  the  officer  entrusted  with 
the  execution,  prefer  this  spot  to  every  other.  But,  careless 
of  the  consequences,  the  Greek  shut  up  the  windows  of  his 
house,  determined  to  deprive  his  oppressors  of  their  expected 
perquisite  ;  and  so  the  dead  Jew  remained  exposed  his  full 
time.  Few,  excepting  those  of  the  true  faith,  ventured  to  ap- 
proach the  spot,  fearful  that  the  Mohamedan  authorities  would, 
in  their  wanton  propensities  to  heap  up  insults  upon  the 
Giaours,  oblige  some  of  them  to  carry  the  carcass  to  the  place 
of  burial ;  and  thus  the  horrid  and  disgusting  object  was  left 
abandoned  to  itself,  and  this  had  given  an  opportunity  to  the 
kabobchi,  Yanaki,  to  dispose  of  the  head  in  the  manner  above 
related,  unseen  and  unmolested.  But  when,  as  the  day  ad- 
vanced, and  as  the  stir  of  the  streets  became  more  active,  this 
additional  head  was  discovered,  the  crowd  which  gathered 
about  it  became  immense.  It  was  immediately  rumored  that  a 
miracle  had  been  performed ;  for  a  dead  Jew  was  to  be  seen 
with  two  heads.  The  extraordinary  intelligence  flew  from 
mouth  to  mouth,  until  the  whole  city  was  in  an  uproar,  and  all 
were  running  to  see  the  miracle.  The  Sanhedrim  immediately 
pronounced  that  something  extraordinary  was  about  to  happen 
to  their  persecuted  race.  Rabbins  were  to  be  seen  running  to 
and  fro,  and  their  whole  community  was  now  poured  around 
the  dead  body,  in  expectation  that  he  would  perhaps  arise,  put 
on  his  heads,  aud  deliver  them  from  the  gripe  of  their  op- 
pressors. 

"  But  as  ill  luck  would  have  it  for  them,  a  Janizary,  who  had 
mixed  in  the  crowd,  and  had  taken  a  clot>e  survey  of  the  super- 


250  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

nuraeravy  head,  exclaimed  in  a  mixture  of  doubt  and  amazement, 
'Allah,  Allah,  il  Allah  !  these  are  no  infidel's  heads.  One  is 
the  head  of  our  lord  and  master,  the  Aga  of  the  Janizaries.' 
IJpon  which,  seeing  more  of  his  companions,  he  called  them'to 
him  ;  and  making  known  his  discovery,  they  became  violent 
with  rage,  and  set  off  to  communicate  the  intelligence  to  their 
Orta. 

"  The  news  spread  like  wildfire  throughout  the  whole  of  the 
corps  of  the  Janizaries,  and  a  most  alarming  tumult  was  im- 
mediately excited  :  for  it  seems  that  it  was  unknown  in  the 
capital  that  their  chief,  to  whom  they  were  devotedly  attached, 
and  one  of  their  own  selection,  had  been  put  to  death. 

"'What!'  said  they,  'is  it  not  enough  to  deal  thus  treacher- 
ously with  us,  and  deprive  us  of  a  chief  to  whom  we  are  at- 
tached ;  but  we  must  be  treated  with  the  greatest  contempt  that 
it  is  possible  for  men  to  receive  ?  What"!  the  head  of  our  most 
noble  Aga  of  the  Janizaries  to  be  placed  upon  the  most  ignoble 
part  of  a  Jew !  what  are  we  to  come  to  ?  We  alone  are  not 
insulted  :  the  whole  of  Islam  is  insulted,  degraded,  debased ! 
No  :  this  is  unheard-of  insolence,  a  stain  never  to  be  wiped  off, 
without  the  extermination  of  the  whole  race  1  And  what  dog 
has  done  this  deed  ?  How  did  the  head  get  there  ?  Is  it  that 
dog  of  a  vizier's  work,  or  have  the  Reis  Efifendi  and  those 
traitors  of  Frank  ambassadors  been  at  work  ?  Wallah,  Billah, 
Tallah  !  by  the  holy  Caaba,  by  the  beard  of  Osman,  and  by  the 
sword  of  Omar,  we  will  be  revenged  !'  " 

"  We  must  leave  the  tumult  to  rage  for  a  short  time  ;  we  must 
request  the  reader  to  imagine  a  scene,  in  which  Jew^s  are  flying 
in  all  directions,  hiding  themselves  with  great  precaution 
against  enraged  Turks,  who,  with  expressions  like  those  just 
mentioned  in  their  mouths,  are  to  be  seen  walking  about  in 
groups,  armed  to  their  teeth  with  pistols  and  scimetars,  and 
vowing  vengeance  upon  everything  which  came  iu  their  way. 
He  must  imagine  a  city  of  narrow  streets  and  low  houses, 
thronged  with  a  numerous  population,  in  dresses  the  most 
various  in  shape  and  the  most  lively  in  colors,  all  anxious,  all 
talking,  all  agog  as  if  something  extraordinary  was  to  happen  ; 
in  the  midst  of  whom  I  will  leave  him,  to  take  a  look  into  the 
interior  of  the  Sultan's  seraglio,  and  to  inquire  in  what  his 
eminency  himself  has  been  engaged  since  we  last  noticed  him. 

"  On  the  very  same  night  of  the  tailor's  attendance,  the  Sul- 
tan had  given  a  secret  order  for  taking  off  the  head  of  the 
Aga  of  the  Janizaries,  (the  fomenter  of  all  the  disturbances 
which  had  lately  taken  place  among  his  corps,  and  conse- 
quently their  idol,)  and  so  anxious  was  he  about  its  execution 


LIFE    IN    A    MONASTERY.  251 

that  he  had  ordered  it  to  be  brought  to  him  the  moment  it 
was  off.  The  mau  entrusted  with  the  execution,  upon  enter- 
ing the  room  where  he  had  been  directed  to  bring  the  head, 
seeing  some  one  seated,  naturally  took  him  for  the  Sultan,  and, 
without  daring  to  look  up,  immediately  placed  the  burthen  at 
his  feet,  with  the  prostrations  which  we  have  already  described 
as  having  been  performed  before  the  tailor.  The  Sultan,  who 
not  a  minute  befoi'e  had  taken  away  the  bundle  containing  the 
dervish's  dress,  had  done  so  in  the  intention  of  deceiving  his 
slave  Mansouri  himself;  so  anxious  was  he  of  being  unknown 
in  his  new  disguise  even  to  him  ;  and  intended  to  have  substi- 
tuted another  in  its  stead  ;  but  not  calculating  either  upon  the 
reception  of  the  head,  or  upon  Mansouri's  immediate  return  to 
the  tailor,  he  was  himself  completely  puzzled  how  to  act  when 
he  found  the  tailor  was  gone,  led  off  by  his  slave.  To  have  sent 
after  them  would  have  disconcerted  his  schemes,  and  therefore 
he  felt  himself  obliged  to  wait  Mansouri's  return,  before  he 
could  get  an  explanation  of  what  had  happened  ;  for  he  knew 
that  they  would  not  have  gone  away  without  the  dress,  and 
that  dress  he  had  then  in  his  possession.  In  the  meanwhile, 
anxious  and  impatient  to  know  what  had  become  of  the  ex- 
pected head,  he  sent  for  the  officer  who  was  entrusted  with 
the  execution  ;  and  the  astonishment  of  both  may  be  imagined 
when  an  explanation  took  place. 

"'By  ray  beard  I'  exclaimed  the  Sultan,  having  thought 
awhile  within  himself;  '  by  my  beard,  the  tailor  must  have  got 
the  head !' 

"  His  impatience  for  Mansouri's  return  then  became  extreme. 
In  vain  he  fretted,  fumed,  and  cried,  'Allah!  Allah!'  it  did 
not  make  the  slave  return  a  minute  the  sooner,  who,  good  man, 
would  have  gone  quietly  to  rest,  had  he  not  been  called  to  ap- 
pear before  the  Sultan. 

"As  soon  as  he  was  within  hearing,  he  called  out,  '  Ahi ! 
Mansouri,  run  immediately  to  the  tailor — he  has  got  the  head 
of  the  Aga  of  the  Janizaries  instead  of  the  dervish's  dress — 
run,  fetch  it  without  loss  of  time,  or  something  unfortunate  will 
happen  !'  He  then  explained  how  this  untoward  event  had  oc- 
curred. Mansouri  now,  in  his  turn,  felt  himself  greatly  em- 
barrassed ;  for  he  only  knew  the  road  to  the  tailor's  stall,  but 
was  totally  unacquainted  with  his  dwelling-house.  However, 
rather  than  excite  his  master's  anxiety  in  a  higher  degree,  he 
set  off  in  quest  of  the  tailor,  and  went  straight  to  his  stall,  in 
the  hopes  of  hearing  from  the  neighbors  where  his  house  was. 
It  was  too  early  in  the  day  for  the  opening  of  the  Bezestan, 
and  except  a  coffee-house  that  had  just  prepared  for  the  recep- 


252  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

tion  of  customers,  where  he  applied  and  could  gain  no  intelli- 
gence, he  found  himself  completely  at  a  stand  still.  By  the 
greatest  good  luck,  he  recollected  Babadul  had  told  him  that 
he  was  the  muezzin  to  the  little  mosque  in  the  Fish  Market, 
and  thither  he  immediately  bent  his  steps.  The  azan,  or  morn- 
ing invitation  to  prayers,  was  now  chanting  forth  from  all  the 
minarets,  and  he  expected  that  he  might  catch  the  purloiner  of 
his  head  in  the  very  act  of  inviting  the  faithful  to  prayers. 

"  As  he  approached  the  spot,  he  heard  an  old,  broken  and 
tremulous  voice,  which  he  imagined  might  be  Babadul's,  break- 
ing the  stillness  of  the  morning  by  all  the  energy  of  its  lungs ; 
and  he  was  not  mistaken,  for  as  he  stood  under  the  minaret,  he 
perceived  the  old  man  walking  round  the  gallery  which  encir- 
cles it,  with  his  hand  applied  to  the  back  of  his  ear,  and  with 
his  mouth  wide  open,  pouring  out  his  whole  throat  in  the  exe- 
cution of  his  office.  As  soon  as  the  tailor  saw  Mansouri  mak- 
ing signs  to  him,  the  profession  of  faith  stuck  in  his  throat ; 
and  between  the  fright  of  being  brought  to  account  for  the 
head,  and  the  words  which  he  had  to  pronounce,  it  is  said  that 
he  made  so  strange  a  jumble,  that  some  of  the  stricter  Mussnl- 
men,  his  neighbours,  who  were  paying  attention  to  the  call, 
professed  themselves  quite  scandalized  at  his  performance.  He 
descended  with  all  haste,  and  locking  the  door  after  him  which 
leads  up  the  winding  staircase,  he  met  Mansouri  in  the  street. 
lie  did  not  wait  to  be  questioned  respecting  the  fate  of  the 
horrid  object,  but  at  once  attacked  the  slave  concerning  the 
trick,  as  he  called  it,  which  had  been  put  upon  him. 

"  'Are  you  a  man,'  said  he,  'to  treat  a  poor  Emir  like  me 
in  the  manner  you  have  done,  as  if  my  house  was  a  charnel- 
house  ?     I  suppose  you  will  ask  me  the  price  of  blood  next !', 

"'Friend,'  said  Mansouri,  'what  are  you  talking  about?  do 
not  you  see  that  it  has  been  a  mistake  ?' 

"  'A  mistake,  indeed  !'  cried  the  tailor,  'a  mistake  done  on 
purpose  to  bring  a  poor  man  into  trouble.  One  man  laughs  at 
my  stupid  beard,  and  makes  me  believe  that  I  am  to  make  a 
suit  of  clothes  for  him — another  takes  away  the  pattern — and 
a  third  substitutes  a  dead  man's  head  for  it.  Allah  I  Allah  !  I 
have  got  into  the  hands  of  a  pretty  nest  of  rogues,  a  set  of  ill- 
begotten  knaves !' 

"  Upon  which  Mansouri  placed  his  hand  upon  the  tailor's 
mouth,  and  said,  '  Say  no  more,  say  no  more  ;  you  are  getting 
deeper  into  the  dirt.     Do  you  know  whom  you  are  abusing  ?' 

"  '  I  know  not,  nor  care  not,'  answered  Babadul ;  '  all  I  know 
is,  that  whoever  gives  me  a  dead  man's  head  for  a  suit  of 
clothes  can  only  be  an  infidel  dog.' 


LIFE    IN    A    MONASTERY.  253 

"  '  Do  you  call  God's  vicegerent  upon  earth,  you  old  demi- 
stitching,  demi-praying  fool,  an  infidel  dog  ?'  exclaimed  Man- 
souri  in  a  rage.  '  Are  your  vile  lips  to  defile  the  name  of  him 
who  is  the  Alem  penah,  the  refuge  of  the  world  ?  What  dirt 
are  you  eating,  what  ashes  are  you  heaping  on  your  head  ? 
Come,  no  more  words ;  tell  me  where  the  dead  man's  head  is, 
or  I  will  take  yours  oQ"  in  his  stead.' 

"  Upon  hearing  this,  the  tailor  stood  with  his  mouth  wide 
open,  as  if  the  doors  of  his  understanding  had  just  been  un- 
locked. 

"  'Aman,  aman,  mercy,  mercy,  O  Aga  !'  cried  Babadul  to 
Mansouri,  '  I  was  ignorant  of  what  I  was  saying.  Who  would 
have  thought  it  ?  Ass,  fool,  dolt,  that  I  am,  not  to  have  known 
better.  Bismillah!  in  the  name  of  the  prophet,  pray  come  to 
my  house  ;  your  steps  will  be  fortunate,  and  your  slave's  head 
will  touch  the  stars.' 

"  '  I  am  in  a  hurry,  a  great  hurry,'  said  Mansouri.  'Where 
is  the  head,  the  head  of  the  Aga  of  the  Janizaries  ?' 

"When  the  tailor  heard  whose  head  it  had  been,  and  recol- 
lected what  he  and  his  wife  had  done  with  it,  his  knees  knocked 
under  him  with  fear,  and  he  began  to  exude  from  every  pore. 

"  'Where  is  it,  indeed  V  said  he.  '  Oh !  what  has  come  upon 
us !     Oh  I  what  cursed  kismet  (fate)  is  this  ?' 

"'Where  is  it?'  exclaimed  the  slave,  again  and  again, 
'  where  is  it  ?  speak  quick  !' 

"  The  poor  tailor  was  completely  puzzled  what  to  say,  and 
kept  floundering  from  one  answer  to  another  until  he  was  quite 
entangled  as  in  a  net. 

"  '  Have  you  burnt  it  ?' 

"'No.' 

"  '  Have  you  thrown  it  away  V 

"'No.' 

" '  Then,  in  the  name  of  the  prophet,  what  have  you  done 
with  it  ?     Have  you  eat  it  V 

"'No.' 

"  '  Is  it  lying  in  your  house  V 

"'No.' 

"  '  Is  it  hiding  in  any  other  person's  house  V 

"'No.' 

"Then  at  last,  quite  out  of  patience,  the  slave  Mansouri 
took  Babadul  by  his  beard,  and  shaking  his  head  for  him,  ex- 
claimed with  a  roar,  '  Then  tell  me,  you  old  dotard  !  what  is  it 
doing  V 

" '  It  is  baking,'  answered  the  tailor,  half  choked:  'I  have 
said  it.' 
22 


254  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

"  '  Baking  1  did  you  say  ?'  exclaimed  the  slave,  in  the  greatest 
amazement,  '  what  did  you  bake  it  for  ?  Are  you  going  to 
eat  it  V 

"  '  True,  I  said  :  what  would  you  have  more  ?'  answered  Ba- 
badul,  'it  is  now  baking.'  And  then  he  gave  a  full  account 
of  what  he  and  his  wife  had  done  in  the  sad  dilemma  in  which 
they  had  been  placed. 

"'Show  me  the  way  to  the  baker's,'  said  Mansouri  ;  'at 
least,  we  will  get  it  in  its  singed  state,  if  we  can  get  it  in  no 
other.  Who  ever  thought  of  baking  the  head  of  the  Aga  of 
the  Janizaries  ?     Allah  il  allah  P 

"They  then  proceeded  to  the  baker  Hassan's,  who  was  now 
about  taking  his  bread  from  his  oven.  As  soon  as  he  became 
acquainted  with  their  errand,  he  did  not  hesitate  in  telling  all 
the  circumstances  attending  the  transmission  of  the  head  from 
the  pipkin  to  the  barber's  bracket ;  happy  to  have  had  an  op- 
portunity of  exculpating  himself  of  what  might  possibly  have 
been  brought  up  against  him  as  a  crime. 

"  The  three  (Mansouri,  the  tailor,  and  the  baker,)  then  pro- 
ceeded to  the  barber's,  and  inquired  from  him  what  he  had 
done  with  the  head  of  the  earliest  customer." 

"  Kior  Ali,  after  some  hesitation,  made  great  assurances  that 
he  looked  upon  this  horrid  object  as  a  donation  from  Eblis  him- 
self, and  consequently  that  he  had  thought  himself  justified  in 
transferring  it  over  to  the  Giaour  Yanaki,  who,  he  made  no 
doubt,  had  already  made  his  brother-infidels  partake  of  it  in 
the  shape  of  kabobs.  Full  of  wonder  and  amazement,  Invoking 
the  prophet  at  each  step,  and  uncertain  as  to  the  result  of  suck 
unheard-of  adventures,  they  then  added  the  barber  to  their 
party,  and  proceeded  to  Yanaki's  cook-shop. 

"The  Greek,  confounded  at  seeing  so  many  of  the  true  be- 
lievers enter  his  house,  had  a  sort  of  feeling  that  their  business 
was  not  of  roast  meat,  but  that  they  were  in  search  of  meat  of 
a  less  savoury  nature.  As  soon  as  the  question  had  been  put 
to  him  concerning  the  head,  he  stoutly  denied  having  seen  it, 
or  knowing  anything  at  all  concerning  it. 

"  The  barber  showed  the  spot  where  he  had  placed  it,  and 
swore  it  upon  the  Koran. 

"Mansouri  had  undertaken  the  investigation  of  the  point  in 
question,  when  they  discovered  symptoms  of  the  extraordinary 
agitation  that  prevailed  in  the  city  in  consequence  of  the  dis- 
covery which  had  been  made  of  the  double-headed  Jew,  and 
of  the  subsequent  discovery  that  had  produced  such  great  sen- 
sation among  the  whole  corps  of  Janizaries. 

"  Mansouri,  followed  by  the  tailor,  the  baker,  and  the  barber, 


LIFE    IN    A    MONASTERY.  255 

then  proceeded  to  the  spot  where  the  dead  Israelite  was  pros- 
trate ;  and  there,  to  their  astonishment,  they  each  recognized 
their  morning  visitor — the  head  so  long  sought  after. 

"  Yanaki,  the  Greek,  in  the  meanwhile,  conscious  of  what 
was  likely  to  befal  him,  without  loss  of  time  gathered  what 
money  he  had  ready  at  hand,  and  fled  the  city. 

"  '  Where  is  the  Greek  ?'  said  Mansouri,  turning  round  to 
look  for  him  in  the  supposition  that  he  had  joined  his  party  ; 
'we  must  all  go  before  the  Sultan.' 

"  '  I  dare  say  he  is  run  off,''  said  the  barber.  'I  am  not  so 
blind  but  I  can  see  that  he  it  is  who  gifted  the  Jew  with  his 
additional  head.' 

"Mansouri  now  would  have  carried  off  the  head;  but  sur- 
rounded as  it  was  by  a  band  of  eni'aged  and  armed  soldiers, 
who  vowed  vengeance  upon  him  who  had  deprived  them  of 
their  chief,  he  thought  it  most  prudent  to  withdraw.  Leading 
with  him  his  three  witnesses,  he  at  once  proceeded  to  the  pre- 
sence of  his  master. 

"When  Mansouri  had  informed  the  Sultan  of  all  that  had 
happened,  where  he  had  found  the  head  of  the  Aga  of  the 
Janizaries,  how  it  had  got  there,  and  of  the  tumult  it  bad 
raised,  the  reader  may  better  imagine  than  I  can  describe  the 
state  of  the  monarch's  mind.  To  tell  the  story  with  all  its 
particulars  he  felt  would  be  derogatory  to  his  dignity,  for  it 
was  sure  to  cover  him  with  ridicule  ;  but  at  the  same  time  to 
let  the  matter  rest  as  it  now  stood  was  impossible,  because  the 
tumult  would  increase  until  there  would  be  no  means  of  quell- 
ing it,  and  the  affair  might  terminate  by  depriving  him  of  his 
crown  together  with  his  life. 

"  He  remained  in  a  state  of  indecision  for  some  time,  twist- 
ing up  the  ends  of  his  mustachios,  and  muttering  AIL^di  I  Al- 
lah !  in  low  ejaculations,  until  at  length  he  ordered  the  Prime 
Yizier  and  the  Mufti  to  his  presence. 

"  Alarmed  by  the  abruptness  of  the  summons,  these  two 
great  dignitaries  arrived  at  the  imperial  gate  in  no  enviable  state 
of  mind ;  but  when  the  Sultan  had  informed  them  of  the  tu- 
mult then  raging  in  the  capital,  they  resumed  their  usual  tran- 
quillity. 

"After  some  deliberation  it  was  resolved,  that  the  tailor,  the 
baker,  the  barber,  and  the  kabol)chi,  should  appear  before  the 
tribunal  of  the  Mufti,  accused  of  having  entered  into  a  conspi- 
racy against  the  Aga  of  the  Janizaries,  and  stealing  his  head 
for  the  purpose  of  baking,  shaving,  and  roasting  it,  and  that 
they  should  be  condemned  to  pay  the  price  of  his  blood ;  but 
as  the  kabobchi  had  been  the  immediate  cause  of  the  tumult 


256  THE    ADVENTURES    OF    IIAJJI    BABA, 

by  treating  the  head  with  such  gross  and  unheard-of  insult, 
and  as  he  was  a  Greek  and  an  infidel,  it  was  further  resolved 
that  the  Mufti  should  issue  a  fetwah,  authorizing  his  head  to 
be  cut  off,  and  placed  on  the  same  odious  spot  where  he  had 
exposed  that  of  the  Aga  of  the  Janizaries. 

"  It  was  then  agreed  between  the  Saltan  and  his  givand  vi- 
zier, that  in  order  to  appease  the  Janizaries,  a  new  Aga  should 
be  appointed  who  was  agreeable  to  them,  and  that  the  deceased 
should  be  buried  with  becoming  distinction.  All  this  (except 
killing  the  Greek,  who  had  fled)  was  done,  and  tranquillity  again 
restored  to  the  city.  But-  it  must  further  be  added  to  the 
honor  of  the  Sultan,  that  he  not  only  paid  every  expense  which 
the  tailor,  the  baker,  and  the  barber  were  condemned  to  incur, 
but  also  gave  them  each  a  handsome  reward  for  the  difficulties 
into  which  they  had  so  unfortunately  been  thrown." 

I  have  much  curtailed  the  story,  particularly  where  Mansouri 
proceeds  to  relate  to  the  Sultan  the  fate  of  the  head,  because, 
had  I  given  it  with  all  the  details  the  dervish  did,  it  would  have 
been  over  long.  Indeed,  I  have  confined  myself  as  much  as 
possible  to  the  outline  ;  for  to  have  swelled  the  narrative  with 
the  innumerable  digressions  of  my  companion  a  whole  volume 
would  not  have  contained  it.  The  art  of  a  story-teller  (and  it 
is  that  which  marks  a  man  of  genius)  is  to  make  his  tale  inter- 
minable, and  still  to  interest  his  audience.  So  the  dervish 
assured  me ;  and  added,  that  with  the  materials  of  the  one 
which  I  have  now  attempted  to  repeat,  he  would  bind  himself 
to  keep  talking  for  a  whole  moon,  and  still  have  something  to 
say. 


CHAPTER    XLYI. 

A  divine's  opinion  of  dervishes. 

At  length  Mirza  Abdul  Cossim  himself,  having  heard  much 
of  my  sanctity,  took  an  opportunity,  when  visiting  the  shrine 
of  the  saint,  to  send  for  me.  This  was  an  event  which  I  con- 
templated with  apprehension  ;  for  how  could  I  possibly  conceal 
my  ignorance  from  one  who  would  certainly  put  my  pretensions 
of  knowledge  to  the  test  ? — an  ignorance  so  profound,  that  I 
could  scarcely  give  aa  account  of  what  were  the  first  principles 
of  the  Mohamedan  faith. 

I  therefore  began  to  take  myself  to  task  upon  what  I  did 


A  divine's  opixiox  of  dervishes.  257 

know.  Let  rae  see,  said  I,  I  know,  first.  That  all  those  who  do 
not  believe  in  Mohained,  and  in  A\i  his  lieutenant,  are  infidels 
and  heretics,  and  are  worthy  of  death. 

2nd.  I  also  know  that  all  men  will  p:o  to  Jehanum,  (hell,) 
excepting  the  true  believers  ;  and  I  further  believe  that  it  is 
right  to  curse  Omar.  I  am  certain  that  all  the  Turks  will  go 
to  Jehanum, — that  all  Christians  and  Jews  are  nejis,  (unclean,) 
•and  will  go  to  Jehanum, — that  it  is  not  lawful  to  drink  wine  or 
eat  pork, — that  it  is  necessary  to  say  prayers  five  times  a  day, 
and  to  make  the  ablution  before  each  prayer,  causing  the  water 
to  run  from  the  elbow  to  the  fingers,  not  contrariwise,  like 
the  heretical  Turks. 

I  was  proceeding  to  sum  up  the  stock  of  my  religious  know- 
ledge, when  the  dervish  came  into  the  room ;  and  I  made  no 
scruple  of  relating  to  him  my  distress  and  its  cause. 

"  Have  you  lived  so  long  in  the  world,"  said  he,  "  and  not 
yet  discovered  that  nothing  is  to  be  accomplished  without  im- 
pudence ?  The  stories  which  Dervish  Sefer,  his  companion, 
and  I  related  to  you  at  Meshed,  have  they  made  so  little  im- 
pression upon  you  ?" 

"  The  effect  of  those  stories  upon  my  mind,"  said  I,  "  pro- 
duced such  a  bastinado  upon  the  soles  of  my  feet,,  by  way  of  a 
moral,  that  I  request  you  to  be  well  assured  I  shall  neither  for- 
get you  nor  them  as  long  as  I  live  :  the  fehh  is  a  great  help  to 
the  memory.  And  now,  according  to  yonr  own  account,  in- 
stead of  the  bastinado,  I  am  likely  to  get  stoned,  should  I  be 
found  wanting ;  a  ceremony  which,  if  it  be  the  same  to  you,  I 
had  rather  dispense  with.  Say  then,  O  Dervish,  what  shall 
I  do?" 

"  You  are  not  that  Hajji  Baba  which  I  always  took  you  to 
be,"  said  the  dervish,  "if  you  have  not  the  ingenuity  to  deceive 
the  mushtehed.  Keep  to  your  silence,  and  your  sighs,  and 
your  shrugs,  and  your  downcast  looks,  and  who  is  there  that 
will  discover  you  to  be  an  ass  ?     No,  even  I  could  not." 

"  Well,"  said  I,  "  be  it  so  :  Allah  kerim  !  God  is  great  I — 
but  it  is  being  in  very  ill  luck  to  be  invited  to  an  entertainment 
to  eat  one's  own  filth." 

Upon  which  I  set  forward  with  my  most  mortified  and  down- 
cast looks  to  visit  the  mushtehed,  and,  thanks  to  my  misfor- 
tunes, I  truly  believe  that  no  man  in  the  whole  city  could  boast 
of  so  doleful  a  cast  of  countenance  as  I  could.  However,  as  I 
slowly  paced  the  ground,  I  recollected  one  of  the  tales  recited 
by  our  great  moralist  Saadi,  in  his  chapter  upon  the  Morals  of 
Dervishes,  which  applied  so  perfectly  to  my  own  case,  that  I 
own  it  cheered  me  greatly,  and  gave  me  a  degree  of  courage  to 
22* 


258  THK    ADVENTURES    OF    HAJJI    BABA. 

encounter  the  scrutiny  of  the  mushtehed  which  otherwise  I 
never  could  have  acquired.     It  is  as  follows  : 

'■'  A  devout  personage  was  once  asked,  what  he  thought  of 
the  character  of  a  certain  holy  man,  of  whom  others  had  spoken 
with  slight  and  disrespect  ?  He  answered,  '  In  his  exterior  I 
can  perceive  no  fault,  and  of  what  is  concealed  within  him  I  am 
ignorant.  He  who  weareth  an  exterior  of  religion,  doubt  not 
his  goodness  and  piety,  if  you  are  ignorant  of  the  recesses  of 
his  heart.  What  hath  the  mohtesih  to  do  with  the  inside  of  the 
house  ?" 

I  then  recollected  some  sentences  from  the  same  chapter, 
which  would  apply  admirably  in  case  I  were  called  upon  to 
show  my  learning  and  humility  at  the  same  time ;  for  I  pro- 
raised  to  say  to  the  holy  man,  should  he  offer  me  an  oppor- 
tunity, "  Do  unto  me  that  which  is  worthy  of  thee,  treat  me  not 
according  to  my  desert.  Whether  you  slay  or  whether  you 
pardon,  my  head  and  face  are  on  thy  threshold.  It  is  not  for 
a  servant  to  direct ;  whatsoever  thou  commandest  I  shall 
perform." 

The  mushtehed  had  just  finished  his  mid-day  prayer,  and  was 
completing  the  last  act  of  it  by  turning  his  head  first  over  the 
right  shoulder  then  over  the  left,  when  I  entered  the  open 
apartment  where  he  was  seated.  It  was  lined  with  his  disci- 
ples, on  each  side  and  at  the  top,  all  of  whom  looked  upon  him 
Avith  the  reverence  and  respect  due  to  a  master.  Here  he  held 
his  lectures.  A  mollah,  with  whom  I  was  acquainted,  men- 
tioned who  I  was,  and  forthwith  I  was  invited  to  take  my  place 
on  the  carpet,  which  I  did,  after  having  with  great  humility 
kissed  the  hem  of  the  holy  man's  cloak.  "  You  are  welcome," 
said  he ;  "we  have  heard  a  great  deal  concerning  you,  Hajii, 
and  insJiallah,  your  steps  will  be  fortunate.     Sit  up  higher !" 

I  made  all  sorts  of  remonstrances  against  sitting  higher  up 
in  the  room  (for  I  had  taken  the  lowest  place  ;)  and  when  I  had 
crept  up  to  the  spot  to  which  he  had  pointed  with  his  finger,  I 
carefully  nestled  my  feet  closely  under  me,  covering  both  them 
and  my  hands  with  my  coat. 

"  We  have  heard,"  said  he,  "  that  you  are  a  chosen  slave  of 
the  Most  High ;  one  whose  words  and  whose  acts  are  the 
same ;  not  wearing  a  beard  of  two  colours,  like  those  who  are 
Mussulmans  in  outward  appearance,  but  who  are  Kafirs  in  their 
hearts." 

"  May  your  propitious  condescension  never  be  less  !"  said  I: 
"  your  servant  is  the  most  abject  of  the  least  of  those  who 
rub  their  forehead  on  the  threshold  of  the  gate  of  Almighty 
splendor." 


A  divine's  opinion  of  dervishes.  259 

Here  ensued  a  pause  and  dead  silence,  wbeu  we  each  ap- 
peared absorbed  in  deep  meditation.  Tlie  musbtehed  tlien 
breaking  the  silence,  said  to  me  : 

"  Is  it  true,  0  Hajii !  that  your  talhh,  your  destiny,  has 
turned  its  face  upon  you,  and  that  you  have  come  hither  to 
seek  refuge  ?  We  and  the  world  have  long  bid  adieu  to  each 
other ;  so  my  questions  are  not  to  satisfy  curiosity,  but  to  in- 
form me  \\'hether  I  can  be  of  use  to  you.  Our  holy  Prophet 
(upon  whom  be  blessings  and  peace  !)  sayeth,  '  Let  our  faithful 
followers  help  each  other :  those  who  see,  let  them  lead  the  blind  ; 
those  who  prosper,  let  them  help  those  who  are  in  adversity.'  " 

Upon  this  I  took  courage,  spoke  my  sentences  from  Saadi, 
as  already  recited,  and  told  my  tale  in  such  a  modified  manner, 
that  my  auditors,  I  verily  believe,  began  to  look  upon  me  as 
very  little  short  of  a  martyr. 

"  If  it  is  so,"  said  the  mushtehed,  "  perhaps  the  day  is  not 
far  off,  when  I  may  be  the  instrument,  in  the  hands  of  God, 
to  see  justice  done  you.  The  Shah  is  to  visit  the  tomb  before 
this  month  is  expired,  and  as  he  looks  upon  me  with  the  eyes 
of  approbation,  be  assured  that  I  will  not  be  deficient  in  endea- 
voring to  procure  your  release." 

"  What  can  such  a  sinner  as  I  say  to  one  of  your  high  sanc- 
tity ?  1  will  pray  for  you  ;  the  dust  of  your  path  shall  be  col- 
lyrium  for  my  eyes.  Whatever  you  will  do  for  me  will  be  the 
effect  of  your  goodness." 

"  It  is  plain  that  you  are  one  of  us,"  said  the  mushtehed, 
apparently  well  satisfied  at  the  almost  divine  honours  which  I 
paid  him.  "  True  Mussulmen  always  recognize  each  other  in 
the  same  manner,  as  I  have  heard  to  be  the  case  among  a  sect 
of  the  Franks,  called  Faramooshi,*-  who  by  a  word,  a  look,  or 
a  touch,  will  discover  one  another  even  among  thousands." 

"Allah  ho  akhar!  God  is  great!"  and  "  Xa  Allah  il  Allah! 
there  is  but  one  God  I"  was  echoed  by  the  company  in  admira- 
tion of  the  mushtehed's  knowledge ;  and  then  he  continued  to 
address  me  thus  : 

"  There  is  an  Ajem  with  you,  who  calls  himself  a  dervish. 
Is  he  an  acquaintance  of  yours  ?  He  says  that  he  and  you  are 
hem  dum,  of  one  breath.     Is  it  so  ?" 

"  Che  arz  bekumim  ?  what  supplication  can  I  make  ?"  said  I, 
not  knowing  precisely  whether  to  acknowledge  my  friend  or 
not.  "  Yes,  he  is  a  fakir,  a  poor  man,  to  whom  I  have  given  a 
path  near  me.  He  has  done  me  some  little  service,  and  I  am 
mindful  of  him." 

*  So  the  Persian.?  call  Freemasons,  about  whom  they  are  very  inquisilivo. 


2G0  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA, 

"You  must  be  mindful  of  yourself,"  said  an  old  mollab,  who 
sat  next  to  me.  "Whatever  is  thief,  whatever  is  knave,  you 
will  be  sure  to  find  it  among  these  Ajems." 

"Yes,"  said  the  mushtehed,  as  he  rested  both  his  hands  upon 
his  girdle,  whilst  his  disciples  (who  knew  this  to  be  his  favorite 
attitude  when  about  to  make  a  speech)  settled  their  faces  into 
looks  of  attention — "  yes,  these,  and  all  who  call  themselves 
dervishes,  be  they  the  followers  of  Nur  Ali  Shahi,  be  they 
Zahahies,  be  they  Nakshbendies,  or  be  they  of  that  accursed 
race  of  Uweisies ;  all  are  kafirs,  or  heretics — all  are  worthy 
of  death.  The  one  promulgate,  that  the  fastings  of  the 
Ramazan,  our  ablutions,  the  forms  and  number  of  our  daily 
prayers,  are  all  unnecessary  to  salvation  ;  and  that  the  heart  is 
the  test  of  piety,  and  not  the  ceremonies  of  the  body.  The 
other  acknowledge  the  Koran,  'tis  true ;  but  they  reject  every- 
thing else  :  the  sayings  of  the  Prophet,  opinions  of  saints,  &c., 
are  odious  to  them ;  and  they  show  their  religious  zeal  by 
shouting  out  the  blessed  name  of  Allah,  until  they  foam  at  the 
mouth,  like  so  many  roaring  lions  ;  and  this  they  are  pleased  to 
call  religion.  Another  set  pretend  to  superior  piety,  by  dis- 
figuring the  outward  man,  making  vows,  and  performing  acts  of 
penance,  that  partake  more  of  the  tricks  of  mountebanks  than 
of  the  servants  of  the  Almighty.  The  fourth,  the  most  here- 
tical of  all,  would  make  us  believe  that  they  live  in  eternal 
communion  with  supernatural  powers  ;  and  whilst  they  put  on 
a  patched  and  threadbare  garment,  affect  to  despise  the  goods 
of  this  world,  and  keep  themselves  warm  by  metaphysical  me- 
ditations, which  neither  they  nor  any  one  else  understand.  No 
distinction  of  clean  or  unclean  (may  they  enjoy  the  eternal 
grills !)  stands  in  their  way :  lawful  and  unlawful  is  all  one  to 
them ;  they  eat  and  drink  whatever  they  choose,  and  even  the 
Giaours,  the  infidels,  are  undefiled  in  their  sight.  And  these 
call  themselves  Sufies ;  these  are  your  wise  men ;  these  are 
your  lights  of  the  world  !  Curses  on  their  beard  1"  To  which 
all  the  company  answered  "  awieen,"  or  amen.  "  Curses  on 
their  fathers  and  mothers  !  Curses  on  their  children  !  Curses 
on  their  relations  !  Curses  on  Sheikh  Attar  1*  Curses  on  Je- 
lalediu  Rumi !"  After  each  curse  the  whole  assembly  echoed 
"  Ameen  !" 

When  he  had  concluded,  all  the  company,  whilst  they  ex- 
pressed their  admiration  at  his  doctrine,  looked  at  me  to  see  if 
I  was  not  struck  with  amazement.     I  was  not  backward  in 

*  Sheikh  Attar,  and  Jchdcdin  Rumi,  are  the  two  great  doctors  of  the  Sufies. 


A  divine's  opinion  of  dervishes.  261 

making  the  necessary  exclamations,  and  acted  my  part  so  true 
to  the  life,  that  the  impression  in  my  favor  was  universal. 

The  mushtehed,  warmed  by  his  own  words,  continued  to 
harangue  against  the  Sufies  with  such^vehemence,  that  I  be- 
lieve, had  there  been  one  at  hand,  they  would  have  risen  in  a 
body  and  put  him  to  death.  I  hugged  myself  in  the  success 
which  had  accompanied  my  attempt  to  appear  a  good  Mussul- 
man, and  now  began  to  think  that  I  was  one  in  right  earnest. 

"  If  what  I  do,"  said  I,  "  constitutes  a  religious  man,  and  is 
to  acquire  me  the  world's  consideration,  nothing  is  more  easy. 
Why  then  should  I  toil  through  life,  a  slave  to  some  tyrant, 
exposed  to  every  vicissitude,  uncertain  of  my  existence  beyond 
the  present  moment,  and  a  prey  to  a  thousand  and  one  evils  ?" 

I  left  the  mushtehed,  and  returned  to  my  cell,  determined  to 
persevere  in  my  pious  dispositions.  When  I  met  my  compa- 
nion again,  I  told  him  all  that  had  happened,  and  everything 
that  had  been  said  about  him  and  dervishes  in  general ;  and 
advised  him,  considering  the  temper  in  which  I  had  left  the 
assembly,  to  make  the  best  of  his  way  out  of  a  place  in  which 
every  man's  mind  and  hand  were  turned  against  him.  "  If  they 
catch  you,  they  stone  you,  friend!"  said  I ;  "  upon  that  make 
your  mind  easy." 

"  May  the  stones  alight  on  their  own  heads  !"  exclaimed  the 
dervish  ;  "  a  set  of  blood-thirsty  heathens  !  What  sort  of  reli- 
gion can  theirs  be  which  makes  them  seek  the  life  of  an  inoffen- 
sive man  ?  I  come  here,  having  no  one  thing  to  do  with  either 
Suni  or  Shiah,  Sufi  or  Mohamedan  :  on  the  contrary,  out  of 
compliment  to  them,  I  go  through  all  the  mummery  of  five 
washings  and  five  prayings  per  day,  and  still  that  will  not 
satisfy  them ;  however,  I  will  be  even  with  them.  I  will  go  ; 
I  will  leave  their  vile  hypocritical  town  ;  and  neither  will  I  wash 
nor  pray  until  necessity  obliges  me  to  pass  through  it  again." 

I  must  own  that  I  was  not  sorry  when  I  heard  the  dervish 
make  this  resolution.  I  saw  him  with  pleasure  gird  on  his 
broad  leathern  belt,  from  which  was  suspended  great  bunches 
of  beads,  and  stick  his  long  spoon  in  it.  I  helped  to  fasten  his 
deer-skin  to  his  back ;  and  when  he  had  taken  up  the  iron  wea- 
pon, which  he  carried  on  his  shoulder,  in  one  hand,  whilst  his 
other  bore  his  calabash  suspended  with  three  chains,  we  bade 
each  other  adieu  with  great  apparent  cordiality. 

Leaving  me  to  the  full  possession  of  my  cell,  he  sallied  forth 
with  all  the  lightness  and  gayety  of  heart  of  one  who  had  the 
world  at  his  command,  instead  of  the  world  before  him,  with 
nothing  but  his  two  feet  and  his  ingenuity  to  carry  him 
through  it. 


262  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

"May  the  mercy  of  Allah  be  poured  over  you,"  said  I,  as  I 
saw  the  last  of  him,  "  you  merry  rogue  !  and  mayest  thou  never 
want  a  pair  of  shoes  to  your  feet,  or  a  pleasant  story  to  your 
tongue,  with  both  of  which  thou  mayest  go  through  life  with 
more  pleasure  both  to  thyself  and  others  than  the  rich  man, 
who  is  the  slave  of  a  thousand  wants,  a  dependent  upon  his 
dependents  for  the  commonest  necessaries  of  his  existence." 


CHAPTER  XLVIL 

A  friend's-  rascality.  ., 

My  mind  now  dwelt  upon  the  promise  which  the  mushtehed 
had  made  of  procuring  my  pardon  and  release  from  the  Shah, 
when  he  came  to  visit  the  sanctuary  at  Kom ;  and  it  occurred 
to  me,  that  to  secure  the  favor  of  so  powerful  an  advocate,  I 
ought  to  make  him  a  present,  without  which  nothing  is  ever 
accomplished  in  Persia.  But  of  what  it  was  to  be  composed 
was  the  next  consideration.  The  money  left  in  my  purse  was 
all  that  I  had  to  subsist  upon  until  I  should  acquire  a  new  live- 
lihood ;  and,  little  as  it  was,  I  had  kept  it  safely  buried  in  an 
unfrequented  corner  near  my  cell. 

I  fixed  upon  a  praying  carpet,  as  the  best  present  for  one 
who  is  always  upon  his  knees,  and  had  laid  my  plan  for  getting 
some  brought  to  me  from  the  bazaar  to  look  at. 

"Every  time  the  good  man  prays,"  said  I,  "he  will  think  of 
me ;  and  as  one  is  apt  to  make  good  resolutions  in  such  mo- 
ments, perhaps  he  will  be  put  in  mind  of  his  promises  to  endea- 
vor to  release  me." 

I  forthwith  resorted  to  my  secret  corner  for  my  purse,  in  the 
determination  of  sacrificing  one  of  my  remaining  tomauns  to 
this  purpose.  But  here  let  me  stop,  and  let  me  request  the 
reader  to  recollect  himself,  and  reflect  upon  his  feelings  after 
the  most  severe  disappointment  which  it  may  have  been  his  lot 
to  sustain,  and  let  me  tell  him,  that  it  was  nothing  to  my  grief, 
to  my  rage,  to  my  exasperation,  when  I  found  that  my  purse 
was  gone. 

My  soul  came  into  my  mouth ;  and  without  a  moment's  hesi- 
tation I  exclaimed,  "  0  thou  bankrupt  dog!  thou  unsainted 
dervish !  You  have  brought  me  safe  into  harbor,  'tis  true ; 
but  you  have  left  me  without  an  anchor.     May  your  life  be  a 


A  friend's  rascalitt.  263 

bitter  one,  and  may  your  daily  bread  be  the  bread  of  grief  1 
And  so,  after  all,  Hajji  Baba  has  become  a  beggar  !" 

I  then  took  to  making  the  most  miserable  meanings  and 
lamentations:  Jor  the  fear  of  starvation  now  stared  me  in  the 
face,  notwithstanding  the  charity  of  the  people  of  Kom ;  and 
as  despair  is  a  malady  which  increases  the  more  the  mind 
dwells  upon  its  misfortune,  I  seemed  to  take  delight  in  re- 
verting to  all  the  horrors  which  I  had  lately  witnessed  in  the 
death  of  Zeenab ;  then  I  dwelt  upon  my  confinement,  then  upon 
my  loss,  and  at  length  wound  myself  up  to  look  upon  my  situa- 
tion as  so  desperate,  that  if  I  had  had  poison  by  me,  I  should 
certainly  have  swallowed  it. 

At  this  moment  passed  by  my  cell  the  old  mollah,  who, 
during  my  visit  to  the  mushtehed,  had  warned  me  against  put- 
ting too  much  confidence  in  the  dervish.  I  told  him  of  my 
misfortune,  and  raised  such  doleful  wailings,  that  his  heart  was 
touched. 

"You  spoke  but  too  well,  0  mollah  1"  said  I,  "when  you 
warned  me  against  the  dervish.  My  money  is  gone,  and  I  am 
left  behind.  I  am  a  stranger ;  and  he  who  called  himself  my 
friend  has  proved  my  bitterest  en^my !  Curses  on  such  a 
friend  I     Oh  !  whither  shall  I  turn  for  assistance  ?" 

"Do  not  grieve,  my  son,"  said  the  mollah;  "we  know  that 
there  is  a  God,  and  if  it  be  his  will  to  try  you  with  misfortune, 
why  do  you  repine  ?  Your  money  is  gone, — gone  it  is,  and 
gone  let  it  be  :  but  your  skin  is  left, — and  what  do  you  want 
more  ?     A  skin  is  no  bad  thing,  after  all !" 

"  What  words  are  these  V  said  I :  "  I  know  that  a  skin  is  no 
bad  thing  ;  but  will  it  get  back  my  money  from  the  dervish  ?" 

I  then  requested  the  old  man  to  state  my  misfortune  to  the 
mushtehed,  and,  moreover,  my  impossibility  of  showing  him 
that  respect  by  a  present,  which  was  due  to  him,  and  which  it 
bad  been  my  intention  to  make. 

He  left  me  with  promises  of  setting  my  case  in  its  proper 
light  before  the  holy  man  ;  and,  to  my  great  joy,  on  the  very 
same  day  the  news  of  the  approaching  arrival  of  the  Shah  was 
brought  to  Kom  by  the  chief  of  the  tent-pitchers,  who  came  to 
make  the  necessary  preparations  for  his  accommodation. 

The  large  open  saloon  in  the  sanctuary  in  which  the  king 
prays  was  spead  with  fine  carpets,  the  court  was  swept  and 
watered,  the  fountain  in  the  centre  of  the  reservoir  was  made  to 
play,  and  the  avenues  to  the  tomb  were  put  into  order.  A 
deputation,  consisting  of  all  the  priests,  was  collected,  to  go 
before  him,  and  meet  him  on  his  entry ;  and  nothing  of  cere- 


264  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

mony  was  omitted  which  was  dae  to  the  honor  and  dignity  of 
the  Shadow  of  the  Almighty  upon  earth. 

I  now  became  exceedingly  anxious  about  my  future  fate  ;  for 
it  was  long  since  I  had  heard  from  Tehran,  and^I  was  ignorant 
of  the  measure  of  the  Shah's  resentment  against  me.  Looking 
upon  the  dark  side  of  things,  my  imagination  led  me  to  think 
that  nothing  short  of  my  head  would  satisfy  him ;  but  then, 
cheering  myself  with  a  more  pleasing  prospect,  I  endeavored  to 
believe  that  I  was  too  insignificant  a  personage  that  my  death 
should  be  of  any  consequence,  and  built  all  my  hopes  upon  the 
intercession  of  the  mushtehed. 

The  chief  tent-pitcher  had  formerly  been  my  friend,  and 
among  his  assistants  I  recognized  many  of  my  acquaintance.  I 
soon  made  myself  known  to  them;  and  they  di^  not,  for  a 
wonder,  draw  back  from  recognizing  me,  although  one  of  our 
greatest  sages  hath  said,  "  that  a  man  in  adversity  is  shunned 
like  a  piece  of  base  money,  which  nobody  will  take  ;  and  which, 
if  perchance  it  has  been  received,  is  passed  off  to  another  as 
soon  as  possible." 

The  new  comers  gave  me  all  the  intelligence  of  what  had 
happened  at  court  since  I  had  left  it ;  and  although  I  pro- 
fessed to  have  renounced  the  world,  and  to  have  become  a  re- 
cluse, a  sitter  in  a  corner,  as  it  is  called,  yet  still  I  found  that  I 
had  an  ear  for  what  was  passing  in  it.  They  informed  me  that 
the  chief  executioner  had  returned  from  his  campaign  against 
the  Russians,  and  had  brought  the  Shah  a  present  of  two 
Georgian  slaves,  a  male  and  a  female,  besides  other  rarities,  in 
order  the  better  to  persuade  him  of  his  great  feats  and  general- 
ship. The  present  had  been  accepted,  and  his  face  was  to  be 
whitened  by  a  dress  of  honour,  provided  he  made  the  tobelt, 
oath  of  penance,  restraining  himself  from  the  use  of  wine  for 
the  future.  I  also  learnt,  notwithstanding  it  was  known  how 
deeply  I  was  implicated  in  Zeenab's  guilt,  that  my  former  mas- 
ter, the  hakim,  had  still  been  obliged  to  make  a  large  present 
to  the  Shah,  besides  having  had  half  his  beard  pulled  out  by 
the  roots,  for  the  loss  which  his  majesty  had  incurred  by  her 
death,  and  for  his  disappointment  at  not  finding  her  ready  to 
dance  and  sing  before  him  on  his  return  from  Sultanieh.  The 
king's  wrath  for  the  loss  of  the  Curdish  slave  had  in  great 
measure  subsided,  owing  to  the  chief  executioner's  gift  of  the 
Georgian  one,  who  was  described  as  being  the  finest  person  of 
the  sort  who  had  been  exhibited  at  the  slave-market  since  the 
days  of  the  celebrated  Taous,  or  Peacock ;  and  was  in  short, 
the  pearl  of  the  shell  of  beauty,  the  marrow  of  the  spine  of 
perfection.     She  had  a  face  like  the  full  moon,  eyes  of  the  cir- 


A  friend's  rascality.  266 

cumference  of  the  chief  tent-pitcher's  forefinger  and  thumb,  a 
waist  that  he  could  span,  and  a  form  tall  and  majestic  as  the 
full-grown  cypress.  And  they  moreover  assured  me,  that  the 
Shah's  anger  against  me  would  very  easily  cede  to  a  present  of 
a  few  tomauns. 

Here  again  my  anathemas  against  the  dervish  broke  forth ; 
"and  but  for  him,"  said  I,  "I  might  have  appeared  not  empty- 
handed."  However  I  was  delighted  to  hear  that  my  case  was 
not  so  desperate  as  I  had  imagined ;  and,  seated  on  the  carpet 
of  hope,  smoking  the  pipe  of  expectation,  I  determined  to  await 
my  fate  with  that  comfortable  feeling  of  predestination  which 
has  been  so  wisely  dispensed  by  the  holy  Prophet  for  the  peace 
and  quiet  of  all  true  believers. 

The  King  of  Kings  arrived  the  next  day,  and  alighted  at  his 
tents,  which  were  pitched  about  the  town.  I  will  not  waste 
the  reader's  time  in  describing  all  the  ceremonies  of  his  recep- 
tion, which,  by  his  desire,  were  curtailed  as  much  as  possible, 
inasmuch  as  his  object  in  visiting  the  tomb  of  Fatimeh  was  not 
to  reap  worldly  distinctions,  but  to  humble  himself  before  God 
and  men,  in  the  hope  of  obtaining  better  and  higher  reward. 

His  policy  has  always  been  to  keep  in  good  odor  with  the 
priesthood  of  his  country;  for  he  knew  that  their  influence, 
which  is  considerable  over  the  minds  of  the  people,  was  the  only 
bar  between  him  and  unlimited  power.  He  therefore  courted 
Mirza  Abdul  Cossim,  the  mushtehed  of  Kom,  by  paying  him  a 
visit  on  foot,  and  by  permitting  him  to  be  seated  before  him,  an 
honour  seldom  conferred  on  one  of  the  laity.  He  also  went 
about  the  town  on  foot,  during  the  whole  time  of  his  stay  there, 
giving  largely  to  the  poor,  and  particularly  consecrating  rich 
and  valuable  gifts  at  the  shrine  of  the  saint.  The  king  himself, 
and  all  those  who  composed  his  train,  thought  it  proper  to  suit 
their  looks  to  the  fashion  of  the  place ;  and  I  was  delighted  to 
find  that  I  was  not  singular  in  my  wo-smitten  face  and  ray  mor- 
tified gait.  I  recollected  to  have  heard,  when  I  was  about  the 
court,  that  the  Shah,  in  point  of  fact,  was  a  Sufi  at  heart,  al- 
though very  rigid  in  the  outward  practices  of  religion ;  and  it 
was  refreshing  to  me  to  perceive,  among  the  great  officers  in 
his  train,  one  of  the  secretaries  of  state,  a  notorious  sinner  of 
that  persuasion,  who  was  now  obliged  to  fold  up  his  principles 
in  the  napkin  of  oblivion,  and  clothe  himself  in  the  garments 
of  the  true  faith. 

On  the  morning  of  the  Shah's  visit  to  the  tomb  for  tlie  purpose 
of  saying  his  prayers,  I  was  on  the  alert,  in  the  hopes  of  being 
remarked  by  the  mushtehed,  who  would  thus  be  reminded  of  his 
promises  to  me. 
23 


266  THE    ADVENTURES    OF    HAJJI    BABA. 

About  an  hour  before  the  prayer  of  mid-day,  the  Shah,  on 
foot,  escorted  by  an  immense  concourse  of  attendants,  priests, 
and  of  the  people,  entered  the  precincts  of  the  sanctuary.  He 
was  dressed  in  a  dark  suit,  the  sombre  colors  of  vfhich  were 
adapted  to  the  solemn  looks  of  his  face,  and  he  held  in  his  hand 
a  long  enameled  stick,  curiously  inlaid  at  the  pommel.  He 
had  put  by  all  ornament,  wearing  none  of  his  customary  jew- 
elry, not  even  his  dagger,  which  on  other  occasions  he  is  never 
without.  The  only  article  of  great  value  was  his  rosary,  com- 
posed of  large  pearls,  (the  produce  of  his  fishery  at  Bahrein,) 
of  the  most  beautiful  water  and  symmetry,  and  this  he  kept 
constantly  in  his  hand. 

The  raushtehed  walked  two  or  three  steps  behind  him  on  the 
left  hand,  respectfully  answered  the  interrogatories  which  the 
king  was  pleased  to  make,  and  lent  a  profound  attention  to  all 
his  observations. 

When  the  procession  came  near  me,  (for  it  passed  close  to  my 
cell,)  I  seized  an  opportunity,  when  no  oflScer  was  at  hand,  to 
run  forward,  throw  myself  upon  my  knees,  make  the  prostra- 
tion with  my  face  to  the  ground,  and  exclaim,  "  Refuge  in  the 
King  of  Kings,  the  asylum  of  the  world !  In  the  name  of  the 
blessed  Fatimeh,  mercy!" 

"Who  is  this  ?"  exclaimed  the  king  to  the  mushtehed.  "Is 
he  one  of  yours  ?" 

"  He  has  taken  the  bust,  (the  sanctuary,)"  answered  the  mirza, 
"and  he  claims  the  accustomed  pardon  of  the  Shadow  of  the 
Almighty  to  all  unfortunate  refugees  whenever  he  visits  the 
tomb.  He  and  we  all  are  your  sacrifice ;  and  whatever  the 
Shah  ordains,  so  let  it  be." 

"  But  who  and  what  are  you  ?"  said  the  Shah  to  me  ;  "  why 
have  you  taken  refuge  here  V 

"May  I  be  your  sacrifice!"  said  I.  "Your  slave  was  the 
sub-deputy  executioner  to  the  Centre  of  the  Universe,  Hajji 
Baba  by  name  ;  and  my  enemies  have  made  me  appear  criminal 
in  the  eyes  of  the  Shah,  whilst  I  am  innocent." 

"  Yafteh  im,  Ave  have  understood,"  rejoined  the  king,  after  a 
minute's  pause.  "So  you  are  that  Hajji  Baba?  Muharek, 
much  good  may  it  do  you.  Whether  it  was  one  dog  or  an- 
other that  did  the  deed,  whether  the  hakim  or  the  sub-deputy,  it 
comes  to  the  same  thing, — the  end  of  it  has  been  that  the  king's 
goods  have  burnt.  That  is  plain  enough,  is  it  not,  Mirza  Abdul 
Cossim  ?"  said  he,  addressing  himself  to  the  mushtehed. 

"Yes  by  the  sacred  head  of  the  king,"  answered  the  holy 
man ;  "  generally,  in  all  such  cases  between  man  and  v/oman, 
they,  and  they  alone,  can  speak  to  the  truth." 


HAJJI    BABA    VISITS    HIS    DYING    FATHER.  267 

"But  what  does  our  holy  religion  say  in  such  cases?"  ob- 
served the  king;  "the  Shah  has  lost  a  slave — there  is  a  price 
of  blood  for  the  meanest  of  human  lacings — even  a  Frank  or  a 
Muscovite  have  their  price,  and  why  should  we  expend  our 
goods  gratis,  for  the  amusement  of  either  our  chief  physician  or 
our  sub-deputy  executioner  ?" 

"There  is  a  price  upon  each  of  God's  creatures,  and  blood 
must  not  be  spilt  without  its  fine  ;  but  there  is  also  an  injunc- 
tion of  forgiveness  and  lenity  towards  one's  fellow  creatures," 
said  the  mushtehed,  "  which  our  holy  Prophet,  (upon  whom  be 
eternal  blessings  !)  has  more  particularly  addressed  to  those 
invested  with  authority,  and  which,  O  king,  cannot  be  better 
applied  than  in  this  instance.  Let  the  Shah  forgive  this  unfor- 
tunate sinner,  and  he  will  reap  greater  reward  in  Heaven  than 
if  he  had  killed  twenty  Muscovites,  or  impaled  the  father  of  all 
Europeans,  or  even  if  he  had  stoned  a  Sufi. 

"Be  it  so,"  said  the  Shah;  and  turning  to  me,  he  said  with 
a  loud  voice,  "  Murakhas,  you  are  dismissed ;  and  recollect  it 
is  owing  to  the  intercession  of  this  man  of  God,"  putting  his 
hand  at  the  same  time  upon  the  shoulder  of  the  mushtehed, 
"  that  you  are  free,  and  that  you  are  permitted  to  enjoy  the 
light  of  the  sun.  Bero  !  Go  I  open  your  eyes,  and  never  again 
stand  before  our  presence." 


CHAPTER    XLVIII. 

HAJJI    BABA    VISITS    HIS    DYING    FATHER. 

I  DID  not  require  to  be  twice  ordered  to  depart ;  and,  with- 
out once  looking  behind  me,  I  left  Kom  and  its  priests,  and 
bent  my  steps  towards  Ispahan  and  my  family.  I  had  a  few 
reals  in  my  pocket,  which  would  supply  me  with  food  on  the 
road ;  and,  as  for  resting  places,  the  country  was  well  sup- 
plied with  caravanserais,  in  which  I  could  always  find  a  corner 
to  lay  my  head.  Young  as  I  was,  I  began  to  be  disgusted  with 
the  world  ;  and  perhaps  had  I  remained  long  enough  at  Kom, 
and  in  the  mood  in  which  I  had  reached  it,  I  might  have  de- 
voted the  rest  of  my  life  to  following  the  lectures  of  Mirza 
Abdul  Cossim,  and  acquired  worldly  consideration  by  my  taci- 
turnity, by  my  austerity,  and  strict  adherence  to  Mahomedan 
discipline.     But  fate  had  woven  another  destiny  for  me.     The 


268  THE  ADVENTrRKS  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

maidan  (the  race  course)  of  life  was  still  open  to  me,  and  the 
courser  of  my  existence  had  not  yet  exhausted  half  of  the 
bounds  and  curvets  with  which  he  -was  wont  to  keep  me  in 
constant  exercise.  I  felt  that  I  deserved  much  of  the  misfor- 
tune with  which  I  had  been  afflicted,  owing  to  my  total  neglect 
of  my  parents. 

"1  have  been  a  wicked  son,"  said  I.  "When  I  was  a  man 
in  authority,  and  was  puffed  up  with  pride  at  my  own  import- 
ance, I  then  forgot  the  poor  barber  at  Ispahan  ;  and  it  is  only 
now,  when  adversity  spreads  my  path,  that  I  recollect  the  au- 
thors of  my  being."  A  saying  of  my  schoolmaster,  which  he 
frequently  quoted  with  great  emphasis  in  Arabic,  came  to  my 
mind.  "An  old  friend,"  used  he  to  say,  "is  not  to  be  bought, 
even  if  you  had  the  treasures  of  Hatem  to  offer  for  one.  Re- 
member then,  0  youth,  that  thy  first,  and  therefore  thy  oldest 
friends  are  thy  father  and  thy  mother." 

"  They  shall  still  find  that  they  have  a  son,"  said  I,  feeling  a 
great  rush  of  tenderness  flow  into  my  heart,  as  I  repeated  the 
v/ords ;  "  and,  please  God,  if  I  reach  my  home,  they  shall  no 
longer  have  to  reproach  me  with  want  of  proper  respect."  A 
still  soft  voice,  however,  whispered  to  me  that  I  should  be  too 
late;  and  I  remembered  the  prognostics  of  my  mind,  when, 
filled  with  grief  for  the  loss  of  Zeenab,  I  left  Tehran  full  of 
virtuous  intentions  and  resolutions. 

When  I  could  first  distinguish  the  peak  in  the  mountain  of 
the  Colah  Cazi,  which  marks  the  situation  of  Ispahan,  my  heart 
bounded  within  me  ;  and  at  every  step  I  anxiously  considered 
in  what  state  I  should  find  my  family.  Would  my  old  school- 
master be  alive  ?  Should  I  find  our  neighbor  the  Bcujual,  (or 
chandler,)  at  whose  shop  I  used  to  spend  in  sweetmeats  all  the 
copper  money  that  I  could  purloin  from  my  father,  when  I 
shaved  for  him,  would  he  be  still  in  existence  ?  And  my  old 
friend,  the  Capiji,  the  door-keeper  of  the  caravanserai,  he  whom 
I  frightened  so  much  at  the  attack  of  the  TuEcomans,  -is  the 
door  of  his  life  still  open,  or  has  it  been  closed  upon  him  for 
ever  ? 

In  this  manner  did  I  muse  by  the  wayside,  until  the  tops  of 
the  minarets  of  Ispahan  actually  came  in  view ;  when,  enrap- 
tured with  the  sight,  and  full  of  gratitude  for  having  been  pre- 
served thus  far  in  my  pilgrimage,  I  stopped  and  said  my 
prayers  ;  and  then  taking  up  one  stone,  which  I  placed  upon 
another  as  a  memorial,  I  made  the  following  vow:  "0  Ali,  if 
thou  will  grant  to  thy  humblest  and  most  abject  of  slaves  the 
pleasure  of  reaching  my  home  in  safety,  I  will,  on  arrival,  kill 
a  sheep,  and  make  a  pilau  for  my  friends  and  family." 


HAJJI    BABA    VISITS    HIS    DYIXG    FATHER.  260 

Traversing  the  outskirts  of  the  city  with  a  beating  heart, 
every  spot  was  restored  to  my  memory,  and  I  threaded  my  way 
through  tlie  long  vaulted  bazaars  and  intricate  streets  without 
missing  a  single  turn,  until  I  found  myself  standing  opposite 
both  my  father's  shop,  and  the  well  known  gate  of  the  cara- 
vanserai. 

The  door  of  the  former  was  closed,  and  nothing  was  stirring 
around  it  that  indicated  business.  I  paused  a  long  time  before 
I  ventured  to  proceed,  for  I  looked  upon  this  first  aspect  of 
things  as  portentous  of  evil ;  but,  recollecting  myself,  remem- 
bered that  it  was  the  Sheb-i-Fumah,  the  Friday  eve,  and  that 
probably  my  father,  in  his  old  age,  had  grown  to  be  too  scru- 
pulous a  Mussulman  to  work  during  those  hours  which  true 
believers  ought  to  keep  holy. 

However,  the  caravanserai  was  open,  and  presented  the  same 
scene  to  my  eyes  which  it  had  done  ever  since  I  had  known  it. 
Bales  of  goods  heaped  up  in  lots,  intermixed  with  mules,  camels, 
and  their  drivers — groups  of  men  in  various  costumes,  some 
seated,  some  in  close  conversation,  others  gazing  carelessly 
about,  and  others  again  coming  and  going  in  haste,  with  faces 
full  of  care  and  calculation.  I  looked  about  for  the  friend  of 
my  boyhood,  the  Capiji,  and  almost  began  to  fear  that  he  too 
had  closed  his  door,  when  I  perceived  his  well  known  figure 
crawling  quietly  along  with  his  earthen  water-pipe,  seeking  his 
bit  of  charcoal  wherewith  to  light  it. 

His  head  had  sunk  considerably  between  his  shoulders,  and  re- 
clined more  upon  his  breast  since  I  last  had  seen  him ;  and  the 
additional  bend  in  his  knees  showed  that  the  passing  years  had 
kept  a  steady  reckoning  with  him. 

"It  is  old  Ali  Mohamed,"  said  I,  as  I  stepped  up  towards 
him.  "  I  should  know  that  crooked  nose  of  his  from  a  thou- 
sand, so  often  have  I  clipped  the  whisker  that  grows  under  it." 

When  I  accosted  him  with  the  usual  salutation  of  peace,  he 
kept  on  trimming  his  pipe,  without  even  looking  up,  so  much 
accustomed  was  he  to  be  spoken  to  by  strangers ;  but  when  I 
said,  "  Do  not  you  recognize  me,  Ali  Mohamed  ?"  he  turned 
up  his  old  bloodshot  eye  at  me,  and  pronounced  "Friend  I  a 
caravanserai  is  a  picture  of  the  Vorld  ;  men  come  in  and  go 
out  of  it,  and  no  account  is  taken  of  them.  How  am  I  then  to 
know  you  ? — Ali  Mohamed  is  grown  old,  and  his  memory  is 
gone  by." 

"  But  you  will  surely  recollect  Hajji  Baba — little  Hajji,  who 
used  to  shave  your  head,  and  trim  your  beard  and  moustaches  !" 

"There  is  but  one  God  !"  exclaimed  the  door-keeper,  in  great 
amazement.     "  Are  you    indeed    ITaiji  ? — Ah  !    mv  son,  your 
23* 


210  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  EABA. 

place  has  long  been  empty — are  you  come  at  last  ?  "Well,  then, 
praise  be  to  All,  that  old  Kerbelai  Hassan  will  have  his  eyes 
closed  by  his  only  child,  ere  he  dies." 

"  How  !"  said  I ;  "  tell  me  where  is  my  father  ?  Why  is  the 
shop  shut  ?     What  do  yon  say  about  death  ?" 

"Yes,  Hajji,  the  old  barber  has  shaved  his  last.  Lose  not  a 
moment  in  going  to  his  house,  and  you  may  stand  a  chance  to 
be  in  time  to  receive  his  blessing,  ere  he  leaves  this  world. 
Please  God,  I  shall  soon  follow  him,  for  all  is  vanity.  I  have 
opened  and  shut  the  gates  of  this  caravanserai  for  fifty  years, 
and  find  that  all  pleasure  is  departed  from  me.  My  keys  retain 
their  polish,  whilst  I  wear  out  with  rust." 

I  did  not  stop  to  hear  the  end  of  the  old  man's  speech,  but 
immediately  made  all  speed  to  my  father's  house. 

As  I  approached  the  well-remembered  spot,  I  saw  two  mol- 
lahs  loitering  near  the  low  and  narrow  entrance. 

"Ha!"  thought  I,  "ye  are  birds  of  ill  omen;  wherever  the 
work  of  death  is  going  on,  there  ye  are  sure  to  be." 

Entering,  without  accosting  them,  I  walked  at  once  into  the 
principal  room,  which  I  found  completely  filled  with  people, 
surrounding  an  old  man,  who  was  stretched  out  upon  a  bed 
spread  upon  the  floor,  aud  whom  I  recognized  to  be  my  father. 

No  one  knew  me,  and  as  it  is  a  common  custom  for  strangers 
who  have  nothing  to  do  with  the  dying,  to  walk  in  unasked,  I 
was  not  noticed.  On  one  side  sat  the  doctor,  and  on  the  other 
an  old  man,  who  was  kneeling  near  the  bed-head,  and  in  him  I 
recognized  my  former  schoolmaster.  He  was  administering 
comfort  to  his  dying  friend,  and  his  words  were  something  to 
this  purpose:  "Do  not  be  downcast:  please  God,  you  still 
have  many  days  to  spend  on  earth.  You  may  still  live  to  see 
your  son  ;  Hajji  Baba  may  yet  be  near  at  hand.  But  yet  it  is 
a  proper  and  a  fortunate  act  to  make  your  will  and  to  appoint 
your  heir.  If  such  be  your  wish,  appoint  any  one  here  present 
your  heir." 

"Ah,"  sighed  out  my  father,  "Hajji  has  abandoned  us — I 
shall  never  see  him  more — he  has  become  too  much  of  a  per- 
sonage to  think  of  his  poor  parents — he  is  not  worthy  that  I 
should  make  him  my  heir." — These  w^ords  produced  an  imme- 
diate effect ;  I  could  no  longer  restrain  my  desire  to  make  my- 
self known,  and  I  exclaimed,  "Hajji  is  here! — Hajji  is  come  to 
receive  your  blessing — I  am  your  son — do  not  reject  him  !" 

Upon  which  I  knelt  down  by  the  bedside,  and  taking  up  the 
dying  man's  hand,  I  kissed  it,  and  added  loud  sobs  and  lamen- 
tations, to  demonstrate  my  filial  affection. 

The  sensation  which  I  produced  upon  all  present  was  very 


HAJJI    BABA    VISITS    HIS    DYING    FATHEK.  271 

great.     I  saw  looks  of  disappointment  in  some,  of  incredulity 
in  others,  and  of  astonisliment  in  all. 

My  father's  eyes,  that  were  almost  closed,  brightened  np  for 
one  short  interval,  as  he  endeavored  to  make  out  my  features, 
and  clasping  his  trembling  hands  together,  exclaimed,  ''11  hem 
dillah  !  Praise  be  to  God,  I  have  seen  my  son,  I  have  got  an 
heir!"  Then  addressing  me,  he  said,  'Have  you  done  well,  0 
my  son,  to  leave  me  for  so  many  years  ?  Why  did  you  not 
come  before  ?" 

He  would  have  gone  on,  but  the  exertion  and  the  agitation 
produced  by  such  an  event  were  too  much  for  his  strength,  and 
he  sunk  down  inanimate  on  his  pillow. 

"  Stop,"  said  my  old  schoolmaster,  who  had  at  once  recog- 
nized me — "stop,  Hajji;  say  no  more:  let  him  recover  him- 
self; he  has  still  his  will  to  make." 

"Yes,"  said  a  youngish  man,  who  had  eyed  me  with  looks 
of  great  hostility — "  yes,  we  have  also  still  to  see  whether  this 
is  Hajji  Baba,  or  not."  I  afterwards  found  he  was  son  to  a 
brother  of  my  father's  first  wife,  and  had  expected  to  inherit 
the  greatest  part  of  the  property ;  and  when  I  inquired  who 
were  the  other  members  of  the  assembly,  I  found  that  they  were 
all  relations  of  that  stamp,  who  had  flocked  together  in  the  hope 
of  getting  a  share  of  the  spoil,  of  which  I  had  now  deprived 
them. 

They  all  seemed  to  doubt  whether  I  was  myself,  and  perhaps 
would  have  unanimously  set  me  down  for  an  impostor,  if  the 
schoolmaster  had  not  been  present :  and  from  his  testimony 
there  was  no  appeal. 

However,  all  doubts  as  to  my  identity  were  immediately 
hushed  when  my  mother  appeared,  who,  having  heard  of  my 
arrival,  could  no  longer  keep  to  the  limits  of  her  anderun,  but 
rushed  into  the  assembly  with  extended  arms  and  a  flowing 
veil,  exclaiming,  "Where,  w^here  is  he?  where  is  my  son? — 
Hajji,  my  soul,  where  art  thou  ?" 

As  soon  as  I  had  made  myself  known,  she  threw  herself  upon 
my  neck,  weeping  aloud,  making  use  of  every  expression  of 
tenderness  which  her  imagination  could  devise,  and  looking  at 
me  from  head  to  foot  with  an  eagerness  of  stare,  and  an  impetu- 
osity of  expression  that  none  but  a  mother  can  command. 

In  order  to  rouse  my  father  from  the  lethargy  into  which  he 
had  apparently  fallen,  the  doctor  proposed  administering  a 
cordial,  which,  having  prepared,  he  endeavored  to  pour  down 
his  throat ;  during  the  exertion  of  raising  the  body,  the  dying 
man  sneezed  once,  which  every  one  present  knew  was  an  omen 
so  bad,  that  no  man  in  his  senses  would  dare  venture  to  give 


272  THE  ADVEXTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

the  medicine  until  two  full  hours  had  expired ;  therefore,  it  re- 
mained in  the  cup. 

After  having  waited  the  expiration  of  the  two  hours,  the  medi- 
cine was  again  attempted  to  be  administered,  when,  to  the  hor- 
ror of  all  present,  and  to  the  disappointment  of  those  who  ex- 
pected that  he  should  make  his  will,  he  was  found  to  be  stone 
dead. 

"In  the  name  of  Allah,  arise,"  said  the  old  mollah  to  him; 
we  are  now  writing  your  will."  He  endeavored  to  raise  my 
father's  head,  but  to  no  purpose  ;  life  had  entirely  fled. 

Water  steeped  in  cotton  was  then  squeezed  into  his  mouth ; 
his  feet  were  carefully  placed  towards  the  Kebleh,  and  as  soon 
as  it  was  ascertained  that  no  farther  hope  was  left,  the  priest  at 
his  bed-head'  began  to  read  the  Koran  in  a  loud  and  sing-song 
emphasis.  A  handkerchief  was  then  placed  under  his  chin, 
fastened  over  his  head,  and  his  two  great  toes  were  also  tied 
together.  All  the  company  then  pronounced  the  Kelemeh 
Shehadet,  (the  profession  of  faith,)  a  ceremony  which  was  sup- 
posed to  send  him  out  of  this  world  a  pure  and  well-authenti- 
cated Mussulman  ;  and  during  this  interval  a  cup  of  water  was 
placed  upon  his  head. 

All  these  preliminaries  having  been  duly  performed,  the  whole 
company,  composed  of  what  were  supposed  to  be  his  friends 
and  relations,  gathered  close  round  the  corpse,  and  uttered  loud 
and  doleful  cries.  This  was  a  signal  to  the  two  moUahs, 
(whom  I  before  mentioned,)  who  had  mounted  on  the  house- 
top, and  they  then  began  to  chaunt  out  in  a  sonorous  cadence 
portions  of  the  Koran,  or  verses  used  on  such  occasions,  and 
which  are  intended  as  a  public  notification  of  the  death  of  a 
true  believer. 

The  noise  of  wailing  and  lamentation  now  became  general, 
for  it  soon  was  communicated  to  the  women,  who,  collected  in 
a  separate  apartment,  gave  vent  to  their  grief  after  the  most 
approved  forms.  My  father,  from  his  gentleness  and  obliging- 
disposition,  had  been  a  great  favorite  with  all  ranks  of  people, 
and  my  mother,  who  herself  was  a  professional  mourner,  and  a 
principal  performer  at  burials,  being  well  acquainted  with 
others  of  her  trade,  had  managed  to  collect  such  a  band  around 
her  on  this  occasion,  that  no  Khan,  it  was  said,  ever  had  so 
much  mourning  performed  for  him  on  his  death-day  as  my 
father. 

As  for  me,  whose  feelings  had  previously  been  set  to  the 
pitch-pipe  of  misfortune,  I  became  a  real  and  genuine  mourner  ; 
and  the  recollection  of  all  the  actions  of  my  life,  in  vehich  my 


HAJJI    BABA    VISITS    HIS    DYING    FATHER.  273 

total  neglect  of  my  parents  made  so  conspicuous  a  figure, 
caused  me  to  look  upon  myself  in  no  enviable  light. 

I  was  seated  quietly  in  a  corner,  adding  my  sincere  sobs  to  the 
artificial  ones  of  the  rest  of  the  whole  company,  when  a  priest 
came  up  to  me,  and  said,  that  of.  course  it  was  necessary  for  me 
to  tear  my  clothes,  as  I  could  not  prove  myself  to  be  a  good 
son  without  so  doing,  and  that  if  I  permitted  him,  he  would 
perform  that  operation  for  me  without  spoiling  my  coat. 

I  let  him  do  what  he  required,  and  he  accordingly  ripped 
open  the  seam  of  the  breast  flap,  which  then  hung  down  some 
three  or  four  inches.  He  also  told  me  that  it  was  the  custom 
to  keep  the  head  uncovered,  and  the  feet  naked,  at  least  until 
all  the  ceremonies  of  burial  had  been  performed. 

To  this  I  freely  consented,  and  had  the  satisfaction  after- 
wards to  learn,  that  I  was  held  up  as  the  pattern  of  a  good 
mourner. 

My  mother's  grief  was  outrageous  :  her  hair  was  concealed, 
and  she  enveloped  her  head  in  a  black  shawl,  making  exclama- 
tions expressive  of  her  anguish,  calling  upon  the  name  of  her 
husband. 

By  this  time  the  neighbours,  the  passers  by,  the  known  or 
unknown  to  the  family,  flocked  round  the  house  for  the  purpose 
of  either  reading  the  Koran  or  hearing  it  read,  which  is  also 
esteemed  a  meritorious  act  on  that  occasion.  Among  these, 
many  came  in  the  character  of  comforters,  who,  by  their  know- 
ledge in  the  forms  of  speech  best  adapted  to  give  consola- 
tion, are  looked  upon  as  great  acquisitions  in  the  event  of  a 
mourning. 

My  old  schoolmaster,  an  eminent  comforter,  took  me  in 
hand,  and,  seating  himself  by  my  side,  addressed  me  in  the  fol- 
lowing words  : 

"  Yes,  at  length  your  father  is  dead.  So  be  it.  What 
harm  is  done  ?  Is  not  death  the  end  of  all  things  ?  He  was 
born,  he  got  a  son,  he  ran  his  course,  and  died.  Who  can  do 
more  ?  You  now  take  his  place  in  the  world ;  you  are  the 
rising  blade,  that  with  millions  of  others  promise  a  good  har- 
vest, whilst  he  is  the  full  ripened  ear  of  corn,  that  has  been  cut 
down  and  gathered  into  the  granary.  Ought  you  to  repine  at 
what  is  a  subject  for  joy  ?  Instead  of  shaving  men's  heads,  he 
is  now  seated  between  two  Houris,  drinking  milk  and  eating 
honey.  Ought  you  to  weep  at  that  ?  No ;  rather  weep  that 
you  are  not  there  also.  But  why  weep  at  all  ?  Consider  the 
many  motives  for  which,  on  the  contrary,  you  have  to  rejoice. 
He  might  have  been  an  unbeliever — but  he  was  a  true  Mussul- 
man.    He  might  have  been  a  Turk — but  he  was  a  Persian. 


274  THE    ADVENTURES    OF    HAJJI    IJABA. 

He  might  have  been  a  Suni — but  he  was  a  Shiah.  He  might 
have  been  an  unclean  Christian — he  was  a  hiwful  son  of  Islam. 
He  might  have  died  accursed,  like  a  Jew — he  has  resigned  his 
breath  with  the  profession  of  the  true  faith  in  his  mouth.  All 
these  are  subjects  of  joy  1" 

After  this  manner  did  he  go  on ;  and,  having  expended  all 
he  had  to  say,  left  me  to  join  his  voice  to  the  general  wailing. 

Those  unclean  men,  the  murdeshur,  or  washers  of  the  dead, 
were  then  called  in,  who  brought  with  them  the  bier,  in  which 
the  corpse  was  to  be  carried  to  the  grave.  I  was  consulted, 
whether  they  should  make  an  imareh  of  it,  which  is  a  sort  of 
canopy,  adorned  with  black  flags,  shawls,  and  other  stuffs — a 
ceremony  practised  only  in  the  burials  of  great  personages; 
but  I  referred  the  decision  to  my  friend,  the  schoolmaster,  who 
immediately  said,  that  considering  my  worthy  father  to  have 
been  a  sort  of  public  character,  he  should  certainly  be  for 
giving  him  such  a  distinction.  This  was  accordingly  done; 
and  the  corpse  having  been  brought  out  by  the  distant  rela- 
tions, and  laid  therein,  it  was  carried  to  the  place  of  ablution, 
where  it  was  delivered  over  to  the  washers,  who  immediately 
went  to  work.  The  body  was  first  washed  with  clear  cold 
water,  then  rubbed  over  with  lime,  salt,  and  camphor,  placed  in 
the  winding-sheet,  again  consigned  to  the  bier,  and  at  length 
conveyed  to  the  place  of  burial. 

The  many  who  offered  themselves  to  carry  the  body,  was  a 
proof  how  much  my  father  must  have  been  beloved.  Even 
strangers,  feeling  that  it  was  a  praiseworthy  action  to  carry  a 
good  Mussulman  to  the  grave,  pressed  forward  to  lend  their 
shoulder  to  the  burthen,  and  by  the  time  it  had  reached  its  last 
resting  place,  the  crowd  was  considerable. 

I  had  followed  at  a  small  distance,  escorted  by  those  who 
called  themselves  friends  and  relations  ;  and  after  a  mollah  had 
said  a  prayer,  accompanied  by  the  voices  of  all  present,  I  was 
invited,  as  the  nearest  relative,  to  place  the  body  in  the  earth, 
which  having  done,  the  ligatures  of  the  winding-sheet  were 
untied,  and  another  prayer,  called  the  talkld,  was  pronounced. 
The  twelve  Imams,  in  rotation,  were  then  invoked ;  and  the 
taJkhi  being  again  read,  the  grave  was  covered  in.  After  this, 
the  Fatheh  (tlie  first  chapter  of  the  Koran)  was  repeated  by  all 
present,  and  the  grave  having  been  sprinkled  over  with  water 
the  whole  assembly  dispersed,  to  meet  again  at  the  house  of 
the  deceased.  A  priest  remained,  at  the  head  of  the  grave, 
praying. 

1  was  now  called  upon  to  act  a  part.     I  had  become  the 


HAJJI    BABA    VISITS    HIS    DYING    FATHER.  215 

principal  personage  in  the  tragedy,  and  au  involuntary  thought 
stole  into  my  mind. 

"Ah,"  said  I,  "the  vow  which  I  made  upon  first  seeing  the 
city  must  now  be  performed,  whether  I  will  or  no.  I  must 
spend  boldly,  or  I  shall  be  esteemed  an  unnatural  son ;" 
therefore,  when  I  returned  to  the  house,  I  blindly  ordered 
everything  to  be  done  in  a  handsome  manner. 

Two  rooms  were  prepared,  one  for  the  men,  the  other  for  the 
women.  According  to  the  received  custom,  I,  as  chief  mourner, 
gave  an  entertainment  to  all  those  who  had  attended  the  fune- 
ral ;  and  here  my  sheep  and  my  pilau  were  not  forgotten. 
I  also  hired  three  mollahs,  two  of  whom  were  appointed  to 
read  the  Koran  in  the  men's  apartment,  and  the  other  remained 
near  the  tomb,  for  the  same  purpose,  inhabiting  a  small  tent, 
which  was  pitched  for  his  use.  The  length  of  the  mourning, 
which  lasts,  according  to  the  means  of  the  family,  three,  five, 
or  seven  days,  or  even  a  month,  I  fixed  at  five  days,  during 
which  each  of  the  relations  gave  an  entertainment.  At  the  end 
of  that  period,  some  of  the  elders,  both  men  and  women,  went 
round  to  the  mourners,  and  sewed  up  their  rent  garments, 
and  on  that  day  I  was  again  invited  to  give  an  entertainment, 
when  separate  sheets  of  the  Koran  were  distributed  throughout 
the  whole  assembly,  and  read  by  each  individual,  until  the  whole 
of  the  sacred  volume  had  been  completely  gone  through. 

After  this  my  mother,  with  several  of  her  relations  and  female 
friends,  proceeded,  in  a  body,  to  my  father's  tomb,  taking  with 
them  sweetmeats,  and  bread  baked  for  the  purpose,  which  they 
distributed  to  the  poor,  having  partaken  thereof  themselves. 
They  then  returned,  weeping  and  bewailing. 

Two  or  three  days  having  elapsed,  my  mother's  friends  led 
her  to  the  bath,  where  they  took  off  her  mourning,  put  her  on  a 
clean  dress,  and  dyed  her  feet  and  hands  with  the  khena. 

This  completed  the  whole  of  the  ceremonies ;  and,  much  to 
my  delight,  I  was  now  left  to  myself,  to  regulate  my  father's 
affairs,  and  to  settle  plans  for  my  own  future  conduct. 


CHAPTER   XLIX. 

BECOMES    HEIR   TO    LOST   PROPERTY, 

My  father  having  died  without  a  will,  I  was,  of  course,  pro- 
claimed his  sole  heir  without  any  opposition,  and,  consequently^ 
all  those  who  had  aspired  to  be  sharers  of  his  property,  balked 
by  my  unexpected  appearance,  immediately  withdrew  to  vent 
their  disappointment  in  abusing  me.  They  represented  me  as 
a  wretch,  devoid  of  all  respect  for  my  parents,  as  one  without 
religion,  an  adventurer  in  the  world,  and  the  companion  of 
Luties  and  wandering  dervishes. 

As  I  had  no  intention  of  remaining  at  Ispahan,  I  treated 
their  endeavors  to  hurt  me  with  contempt ;  and  consoled  my- 
self by  giving  them  a  full  return  of  all  their  scurrility,  by  ex- 
pressions which  neither  they  nor  their  fathers  had  ever  heard ; 
expressions  which  I  had  picked  up  from  amongst  the  illustrious 
characters  with  whom  I  had  passed  the  first  years  of  my  youth. 

When  we  were  left  to  ourselves,  my  mother  and  I,  after 
having  bewailed  in  sufficiently  pathetic  language,  she  the  death 
of  a  husband,  I  the  loss  of  a  father,  the  following  conversation 
took  place  : — ■ 

"  Now  tell  me,  O  my  mother — for  there  can  be  no  secrets 
between  us — tell  me  what  was  the  state  of  Kerbelai  Hassan's 
concerns.  He  loved  you,  and  confided  in  you,  and  you  must 
therefore  be  better  accpiainted  with  them  than  any  one  else." 

"  What  do  I  know  of  them,  my  son  ?"  said  she,  in  great 
haste,  and  seeming  confusion. 

I  stopt  her,  to  continue  my  speech.  "You  know  that,  ac- 
cording to  the  law,  his  heir  is  bound  to  pay  his  debts  : — they 
must  be  ascertained.  Then,  the  expenses  of  the  funeral  are  to 
be  defrayed ;  they  will  be  considerable  ;  and  at  present  I  am  as 
destitute  of  means  as  on  the  day  you  gave  me  birth.  To  meet 
all  this,  money  is  necessary  ;  or  else  both  mine  and  my  father's 
name  will  be  disgraced  among  men,  and  my  enemies  will  not 
fail  to  overcome  me.  He  must  have  been  reputed  wealthy,  or 
else  his  death-bed  would  never  have  been  surrounded  by  that 
host  of  blood-suckers  and  time-servers  which  have  been  driven 
away  by  my  presence.  You,  ray  mother,  must  tell  me  where  he 
was  accustomed  to  deposit  his  ready  cash ;  who  were,  or  who 
(276) 


BECOMES    HEIR   TO    LOST    PROPERTY.  21 T 

are  likely  to  be,  his  debtors ;  and  what  might  be  his  posses- 
sions, beside  those  which  are  apparent. 

"  Oh,  Allah  I"  exclaimed  she,  "what  words  are  these  ?  Your 
father  was  a  poor  man,  who  had  neither  money  nor  possessions. 
Money  indeed  I  "We  had  dry  bread  to  eat,  and  that  was  all  I 
Now  and  then,  after  the  arrival  of  a  great  caravan,  when  heads 
to  be  shaved  were  plentiful,  and  his  business  brisk ;  .  we  in- 
dulged in  our  dish  or  rice,  and  our  skewer  of  kabob,  but  other- 
wise we  lived  like  beggars.  A  bit  of  bread,  a  morsel  of  cheese, 
an  onion,  a  basin  of  sour  curds — that  was  our  daily  fare  ;  and, 
under  these  circumstances,  can  you  ask  me  for  money,  ready 
money  too  ?  There  is  this  house,  which  you  see  and  know ; 
then  his  shop,  with  its  furniture ;  and  when  I  have  said  that,  I 
have  nearly  said  all.  You  are  just  arrived  in  time,  my  son,  to 
step  into  your  father's  shoes,  and  take  up  his  business  ;  and 
Inshallah,  please  God,  may  your  hand  be  fortunate  !  may  it 
never  cease  wagging,  from  one  year's  end  to  the  other  !" 

"This  is  very  strange!"  exclaimed  I,  in  my  turn.  "Fifty 
years,  and  more,  hard  and  unceasing  toil  !  and  nothing  to  show 
for  it !     This  is  incredible  ?     We  must  call  in  the  diviners." 

"  The  diviners  ?"  said  my  mother,  in  some  agitation  ;  of  what 
use  can  they  be  ?  They  are  only  called  in  when  a  thief  is  to  be 
discovered.  You  will  not  proclaim  your  mother  a  thief,  Hajji, 
will  you  ?  Go,  make  inquiries  of  your  friend,  and  your  father's 
friend,  the  akhon.^  He  is  acquainted  with  the  whole  of  the 
concerns,  and  I  am  sure  he  will  repeat  what  I  have  said." 

"You  do  not  speak  amiss,  mother,"  said  I.  The  akhon 
probably  does  know  what  were  my  father's  last  wishes,  for  he 
appeared  to  be  the  principal  director  in  his  dying  moments , 
and  he  may  tell  me,  if  money  there  was  left,  where  it  is  to  be 
found." 

Accordingly  I  went  straightway  to  seek  the  old  man,  whom 
I  found  seated  precisely  in  the  very  same  corner  of  the  little 
parish  mosque,  surrounded  by  his  scholars,  in  which  some 
twenty  years  before  I  myself  had  received  his  instructions.  As 
soon  as  he  saw  me  he  dismissed  his  scholars,  saying,  that  my 
footsteps  were  fortunate,  and  that  others,  as  well  as  himself, 
should  partake  of  the  pleasure  which  I  was  sure  to  dispense 
wherever  I  went. 

"Ahi,  akhon,"  said  I,  "do  not  laugh  at  my  beard.  My 
good  fortune  has  entirely  forsaken  me  ;  and  even  now,  when  I 
had  hoped  that  my  destiny,  in  depriving  me  of  my  father,  had 

*  A  inollah  who  is  a  schoolmaster,  is  also  styled  akhon. 

24 


218  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

made  up  the  loss  by  giving  me  wealth,  I  am  likely  to  be  dis- 
appointed, and  to  turn  out  a  greater  beggar  than  ever." 

'^  Allah  kerim,  God  is  merciful,"  said  the  schoolmaster;  and, 
lifting  up  his  eyes  to  heaven,  whilst  he  placed  his  hands  on  his 
knees,  with  their  palms  uppermost,  he  exclaimed,  "Oh,  Allah, 
whatever  is,  thou  art  it."  Then  addressing  himself  to  me,  he 
said,  "Yes,  my  son,  such  is  the  world,  and  such  will  it  ever  be, 
as  long  as  man  shuts  not  up  his  heart  from  all  human  desires. 
Want  nothing,  seek  nothing,  and  nothing  will  seek  you." 

"How  long  have  you  been  a  si<^,"  said  I,  "that  you  talk 
after  this  manner  ?  I  can  speak  on  that  subject  also,  since  ray 
evil  star  led  me  to  Kom,  but  now  I  am  engrossed  with  other 
matters."  I  then  informed  him  of  the  object  of  my  visit,  and 
requested  him  to  tell  me  what  he  knew  of  my  father's  concerns. 

Upon  this  question  he  coughed,  and,  making  up  a  face  of 
great  wisdom,  went  through  a  long  string  of  oaths  and  pro- 
fessions, and  finished  by  repeating  what  I  had  heard  from  my 
mother ;  namely,  that  he  believed  my  father  to  have  died  pos- 
sessed of  no  (nciffd)  ready  cash  (for  that,  after  all,  was  the  im- 
mediate object  of  my  search  ;)  and  what  his  other  property  was, 
he  reminded  me  that  I  knew  as  well  as  himself. 

I  remained  mute  for  some  time  with  disappointment,  and 
then  expressed  my  surprise  in  strong  terms.  My  father,  I  was 
aware,  was  too  good  a  Mussulman,  to  have  lent  out  his  money 
upon  interest,  for  I  recollected  a  circumstance,  when  I  was 
quite  a  youth,  which  proved  it.  Osman  Aga,  my  first  master, 
wanting  to  borrow  a  sum  from  liim,  for  which  he  offered  an 
enormous  interest,  my  father  put  his  conscience  into  the  hands 
of  a  rigid  mollah,  who  told  him  that  the  precepts  of  the  Koran 
entirely  forbade  it.  Whether  since  that  time  he  had  relaxed 
his  principles,  I  could  not  say,  but  I  was  assured  that  he  always 
set  his  face  against  the  unlawful  practice  of  taking  interest, 
and  that  he  died,  as  he  had  lived,  a  perfect  model  of  a  true 
believer. 

I  left  the  mosque  in  no  very  agreeable  mood,  and  took  my 
way  to  the  spot  where  I  had  made  my  first  appearance  in  life, 
namely,  my  father's  shop,  turning  over  in  my  mind  as  I  went 
what  steps  I  should  take  to  secure  a  future  livelihood.  To 
remain  at  Ispahan  was  out  of  the  question — the  place  and  the 
inhabitants  were  odious  to  me  : — therefore,  it  was  only  left  me 
to  dispose  of  everything  that  was  now  my  own,  and  to  return 
to  the  capital,  which,  after  all,  I  knew  to  be  the  best  market 
for  an  adventurer  like  myself.  However,  I  could  not  relinquish 
the  thought  that  my  father  had  died  possessed  of  some  ready 
money,  and  suspicions  would  haunt  my  mind,  in  spite  of  me, 


BECOMES    HEIR   TO    LOST    PROPERTY.  27? 

that  foul  play  was  going  on  somewhere  or  other.  I  was  at  a 
loss  to  whom  to  address  myself,  unknown  as  I  was  in  the  city, 
and  I  was  thinking  of  raaking  my  case  known  to  the  Cadi, 
when,  approaching  the  gate  of  the  caravanserai,  I  was  accosted 
by  the  old  Gapiji.  "  Peace  be  unto  you,  Aga  !"  said  he,  "  may 
you  live  many  years,  and  may  your  abundance  increase  I  My 
eyes  are  enlightened  by  seeing  you." 

"Are  your  spirits  so  well  wound  up,  AH  Mohamed,"  said  I 
in  return,  "that  you  choose  to  treat  me  thus?  As  for  the 
abundance  you  talk  of,  'tis  abundance  of  grief,  for  I  have  none 
other  that  I  know  of.  Och  I"  said  I,  sighing,  "  my  liver  has 
become  water,  and  my  soul  has  withered  up." 

"What  news  is  this?"  said  the  old  man.  "Your  father 
(peace  be  unto  him  !)  is  just  dead — you  are  his  heir — you  are 
young,  and,  Masliallah!  you  are  handsome — your  wit  is  not 
deficient : — what  do  you  want  more  ?" 

"  I  am  his  heir,  'tis  true  ;  but  what  of  that  ?— what  advan- 
tage can  accrue  to  me,  when  I  only  get  an  old  mud-built  house, 
with  some  worn-out  carpets,  some  pots  and  pans  and  decayed 
furniture,  and  yonder  shop  with  a  brass  basin  and  a  dozen  of 
razors  ?     Let  me  spit  upon  such  an  inheritance." 

"But  where  is  your  money,  your  ready  cash,  Hajji?  Your 
father  (Grod  be  with  him  I)  had  the  reputation  of  being  as  great 
a  niggard  of  his  money  as  he  was  liberal  of  his  soap.  Every- 
body knows  that  he  amassed  much,  and  never  passed  a  day 
without  adding  to  his  store." 

"  That  may  be  true,"  said  I ;  "  but  what  advantage  will  that 
be  to  me,  since  I  cannot  find  where  it  was  deposited  ?  My 
mother  says  that  he  had  none — the  akhon  repeats  the  same — I 
am  no  conjuror  to  discover  the  truth.  I  had  it  in  my  miud  to 
go  to  the  Cadi." 

"  To  the  Cadi  ?"  said  Ali  Mohamed.  "  Heaven  forbid !  Go 
not  to  him — ^you  might  as  well  knock  at  the  gate  of  this  cara- 
vanserai, when  I  am  absent,  as  try  to  get  justice  from  him 
without  a  heavy  fee.  No,  he  sells  it  by  the  miscal,  at  a  heavy 
price,  and  very  light  weight  does  he  give  after  all.  He  does 
not  turn  over  one  leaf  of  the  Koran,  until  his  fingers  have  been 
well  plated  with  gold,  and  if  those  who  have  appropriated  your 
father's  sacks  are  to  be  your  opponents,  do  not  you  think  that 
they  will  drain  them  into  the  Cadi's  lap,  rather  than  he  should 
pronounce  in  your  favor?" 

"What,  then,  is  to  be  done?"  said  I.  "Perhaps  the  divi- 
ners might  give  me  some  help." 

"There  will  be  no  harm  in  that,"  answered  the  door-keeper. 
"I  have  known  them  make  great  discoveries  during  my  service 


280  THK  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

in  this  caravanserai.  Mcrcliants  have  frequently  lost  their 
money,  and  found  it  again  through  their  means.  It  was  only 
in  the  attack  of  the  Turcomans,  when  much  property  was  sto- 
len, that  they  were  completely  at  their  wits'  ends.  Ah  !  that 
was  a  strange  event.  It  brought  much  misery  on  my  head ; 
for  some  were  wicked  enough  to  say  that  I  was  their  accom- 
plice, and,  what  is  more  extraordinary,  that  you  were  amongst 
them,  Hajji ! — for  it  was  on  account  of  your  name,  which  the 
dog's  son  made  use  of  to  induce  me  to  open  the  gate,  that  the 
whole  mischief  was  produced." 

Lucky  was  it  for  me,  that  old  Ali  Mahomed  was  very  dull 
of  sight,  or  else  he  would  have  remarked  strange  alterations  in 
my  features  when  he  made  these  observations.  However,  our 
conference  ended  by  his  promising  to  send  me  the  most  expert 
diviner  of  Ispahan;  "a  man,"  said  he,  "who  would  entice  a 
piece  of  gold  out  of  the  eai'th,  if  buried  twenty  ^'Ae^  deep,  or 
even  if  it  was  hid  in  the  celebrated  well*  of  Kashan." 


I 


CHAPTER   L. 

SHREWD    MEANS    TO    DISCOVER   HIS    PROPERTY. 

The  next  moruing,  soon  after  the  first  prayers,  a  little  man 
came  into  my  room,  whom  I  soon  discovered  to  be  the  diviner. 
He  was  a  humpback,  with  an  immense  head,  with  eyes  so  won- 
derfully brilliant,  and  a  countenance  so  intelligent,  that  I  felt 
he  could  look  through  and  through  me  at  one  glance.  He  wore 
a  dervish's  cap,  from  under  which  flowed  a  profusion  of  jet 
black  hair,  which,  added  to  a  thick  bush  of  a  beard,  gave  an 
imposing  expression  to  his  features.  His  eyes  which  by  a  quick 
action  of  his  eyelid,  (whether  real  or  affected,  I  know  not,) 
twinkled  like  stars,  made  the  monster,  who  was  not  taller  than 
a  good  bludgeon,  look  like  a  little  demon. 

He  began  by  questioning  me  very  narrowly ;  made  me  relate 
every  circumstance  of  my  life — particularly  since  my  return  to 
Ispahan — inquired  who  were  my  father's  greatest  apparent 
friends  and  associates,  and  what  my  own  suspicions  led  me  to 
conclude.     In  short,  he  searched  into  every  particular,  with  the 

*  It  is  a  popular  belief,  that  near  the  city  of  Kashan  there  exists  a  well,  of 
fabulous  depth,  at  the  bottom  of  whicli  are  found  enchanted  groves  and  gar- 
dens. 


SHREWD    MEANS   TO    DISCOVER   HIS    PROPERTY.  281 

same  scrutiny  that  a  doctor  would  in  tracing  and  unraveling  an 
intricate  disorder. 

When  he  had  well  pondered  over  everything  that  I  had  un- 
folded, he  then  required  to  be  shown  the  premises  which  my 
father  principally  inhabited.  My  mother  having  gone  that 
morning  to  the  bath,  I  was  enabled,  unknown  to  her,  to  take 
him  into  her  apartments,  where  he  requested  me  to  leave  him 
to  himself,  in  order  that  he  might  obtain  a  knowledge  of  the 
localities  necessary  to  the  discoveries  which  he  hoped  to  make. 
He  remained  there  a  full  quarter  of  an  hour,  and  when  he  came 
out  requested  me  to  collect  those  who  were  in  my  father's  inti- 
macy, and  in  the  habit  of  much  frequenting  the  house,  and  that 
he  would  return,  they  being  assembled,  and  begin  his  opera- 
tions. 

Without  saying  a  word  to  my  mother  about  the  diviner,  I 
requested  her  to  invite  her  most  intimate  friends  for  the  follow- 
ing morning,  it  being  my  intention  to  give  them  a  breakfast ; 
and  I  myself  begged  the  attendance  of  the  akhon,  the  capiji, 
my  father's  nephew  by  his  first  wife,  and  a  brother  of  my  mo- 
ther, with  others  who  had  free  entrance  into  the  house. 

They  came  punctually ;  and  when  they  had  partaken  of  such 
fare  as  I  could  place  before  them,  they  were  informed  of  the 
predicament  in  which  I  stood,  and  that  I  had  requested  their 
attendance  to  be  witnesses  to  the  endeavors  of  the  diviner  to 
discover  where  my  father  was  wont  to  keep  his  money,  of  the 
existence  of  which,  somewhere  or  other,  nobody  who  knew  him 
could  doubt.  I  looked  into  each  man's  face  as  I  made  this 
speech,  hoping  to  remark  some  expression  which  might  throw  a 
light  upon  my  suspicions,  but  everybody  seemed  ready  to  help 
my  investigation,  and  maintained  the  most  unequivocal  inno- 
cence of  countenance. 

At  length  the  dervish,  Teez  Ncgah,  (for  that  was  the  name 
of  the  conjuror,)  was  introduced,  accompanied  by  an  attendant 
who  carried  something  wrapt  up  in  a  handkerchief.  Having 
ordered  the  women  in  the  auderun  to  keep  themselves  veiled, 
because  they  would  probably  soon  be  visited  by  men,  I  re- 
quested the  dervish  to  begin  his  operations. 

He  fii'st  looked  at  every  one  present  with  great  earnestness, 
but  more  particularly  fixed  his  basilisk  eyes  upon  the  akhon, 
who  evidently  could  not  stand  the  scrutiny,  but  exclaimed, 
''Allah  il  Allah P' — there  is  but  one  God — stroked  down  his 
face  and  beard,  and  blew  first  over  one  shoulder  and  then  over 
the  other,  by  way  of  keeping  off  the  evil  s])irit.  Some  merri- 
ment was  raised  at  his  expense ;  but  he  did  not  appear  to  be 
in  a  humor  to  meet  any  one's  jokes. 
24* 


282  THE  ADVENTURES  OP  HAJJI  BABA. 

After  this,  the  dervish  called  to  his  attendant,  who  from  the 
handkerchief  drew  forth  a  brass  cup,  of  a  plain  surface,  but 
written  all  over  with  quotations  from  the  Koran,  havhig  refer- 
ence to  the  crime  of  stealing,  and  defrauding  the  orphan  of  his 
lawful  property.  He  was  a  man  of  few  words,  and  simply 
saying,  "  In  the  name  of  Allah,  the  All-wise,  and  All-seeing," 
he  placed  the  cup  on  the  floor,  treating  it  with  much  reverence, 
both  in  touch  and  in  manner. 

He  then  said  to  the  lookers-on,  "  Insliallah,  it  will  lead  us  at 
once  to  the  spot  where  the  money  of  the  deceased  Kerbelai 
Hassan  (may  God  show  him  mercy  1)  is,  or  was  deposited." 

We  all  looked  at  each  other,  some  with  expressions  of  in- 
credulity, others  with  unfeigned  belief,  when  he  bent  himself 
towards  the  cup,  and  with  little  shoves  and  pats  of  his  hand,  he 
impelled  it  forwards,  exclaiming  all  the  time,  "  See,  see,  the 
road  it  takes.  Nothing  can  stop  it.  It  will  go,  in  spite  of  me 
Masliallah,  Mashallah .'" 

We  followed  him,  until  he  reached  the  door  of  the  harem, 
where  we  knocked  for  admittance.  After  some  negotiation  it 
was  opened,  and  there  we  found  a  crowd  of  women  (many  of 
whom  had  only  loosely  thrown  on  their  veils)  waiting  with 
much  impatience  to  witness  the  feats  which  this  wonderful  cup 
was  to  perform. 

"  Make  way,"  said  the  diviner  to  the  women  who  stood  in 
his  path,  as  he  took  his  direction  towards  a  corner  of  the  court, 
upon  which  the  windows  of  the  room  opened — "  Make  way ; 
nothing  can  stop  my  guide." 

A  woman,  whom  I  recognized  to  be  ray  mother,  stopt  his 
progress  several  times,  until  he  was  obliged  to  admonish  her, 
with  some  bitterness,  to  keep  clear  of  him. 

"Do  not  you  see,"  said  he,  "  we  are  on  the  Lord's  business  ? 
Justice  will  be  done,  in  spite  of  the  wickedness  of  man." 

At  length  he  reached  a  distant  corner,  where  it  was  plain 
that  the  earth  had  been  recently  disturbed,  and  there  he 
stopped. 

^^ Bisrnillah,  in  the  name  of  Allah,"  said  he,  "let  all  present 
stand  around  me,  and  mark  what  I  do."  He  dug  into  the 
ground  with  the  dagger,  clawed  the  soil  away  with  his  hands, 
and  discovered  a  place  in  which  were  the  remains  of  an  earthern 
vessel,  and  the  marks  near  it  of  there  having  been  another. 

"Here,"  said  he,  "here  the  money  was,  but  is  no  more." 
Then  taking  up  his  cup,  he  appeared  to  caress  it,  and  make 
much  of  it,  calling  it  his  little  uncle  and  his  little  soul. 

Everyone  stared.  All  cried  out,  "cyaiS,"  wonderful ;  and 
the  little  hunapback  was  looked  upon  as  a  supernatural  being. 


SHREWD    MEANS   TO    DISCOVER    HIS    PROPERTY.  283 

The  capiji,  who  was  accustomed  to  such  discoveries,  was  the 
only  one  who  had  the  readiness  to  say,  "  But  where  is  the  thief  ? 
You  have  shown  us  where  the  game  lay,  but  we  want  you  to 
catch  it  for  us  : — the  thief  and  the  money,  or  the  money  without 
the  thief — that  is  what  we  want." 

"Softly,  my  friend,"  said  the  dervish  to  the  capiji,  "don't 
jump  so  soon  from  the  crime  to  the  criminal.  We  have  a 
medicine  for  every  disorder,  although  it  may  take  some  time  to 
work." 

He  then  cast  his  eyes  upon  the  company  present,  twinkling 
them  all  the  while  in  quick  flashes,  and  said,  "I  am  sure  every 
one  here  will  be  happy  to  be  clear  of  suspicion,  and  will  agree 
to  what  I  shall  propose.  The  operation  is  simple,  and  soon 
over." 

'' Elbetteh,''^  certainly;  '' Belli,^^  yes;  "  Een  che  harf  estV 
what  word  is  this  ?  was  heard  to  issue  from  every  mouth,  and  I 
requested  the  dervish  to  proceed. 

He  called  again  to  his  servant,  who  produced  a  small  bag, 
whilst  he  again  took  the  cup  under  his  charge. 

"This  bag,"  said  the  diviner,  "contains  some  old  rice.  I 
will  put  a  small  handful  of  it  into  each  person's  mouth,  which 
they  will  forthwith  chew.  Let  those  who  cannot  break  it  be- 
ware, for  Eblis  is  near  at  hand." 

Upon  this,  placing  us  in  a  row,  he  fdled  each  person's  mouth 
with  rice,  and  all  immediately  began  to  masticate.  Being  the 
complainant,  of  course  I  was  exempt  from  the  ordeal ;  and  ray 
mother,  who  chose  to  make  common  cause  with  me,  also  stood 
out  of  the  ranks.  The  quick-sighted  dervish  would  not  allow 
of  this,  but  made  her  undergo  the  trial  with  the  rest,  saying, 
"  The  property  we  seek  is  not  yours,  but  your  son's.  Had  he 
been  your  husband,  it  would  be  another  thing."  She  agreed 
to  his  request,  though  with  bad  grace,  and  then  all  the  jaws 
were  set  to  wagging,  some  looking  upon  it  as  a  good  joke, 
others  thinking  it  a  hard  trial  to  the  nerves.  As  fast  as  each 
person  had  ground  his  mouthful,  he  called  to  the  dervish,  and 
showed  the  contents  of  his  mouth. 

All  had  now  proved  their  innocence  excepting  the  akhon  and 
my  mother.  The  former,  whose  face  exhibited  the  picture  of  an 
affected  cheerfulness  with  great  nervous  apprehension,  kept 
mumbling  his  rice,  and  turning  it  over  between  his  jaws,  until 
he  cried  out  in  a  querulous  tone,  "Why  do  you  give  me  this 
stuff  to  chew  ?  I  am  old,  and  have  no  teeth : — it  is  impossible 
for  me  to  reduce  the  grain  ;"  and  then  he  spit  it  out.  My 
mother,  too,  complained  of  her  want  of  power  to  bi-eak  the  hard 
rice,  and  did  the  same  thing.     A  silence  ensued,  which  made 


284  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

US  all  look  with  more  attention  than  usual  upon  them,  and  it 
was  only  broken  by  a  time-server  of  my  mother,  an  old  woman, 
who  cried  out,  "  What  child's  play  is  this  ?  Who  has  ever 
heard  of  a  son  treating  his  mother  with  this  disrespect,  and  his 
old  schoolmaster,  too  ?  Shame,  shame  ! — let  us  go — he  is  pro- 
bably the  thief  himself." 

Upon  this  the  dervish  said,  "Are  we  fools  and  assea,  to  be 
dealt  with  in  this  manner  ?  Either  there  was  money  in  that 
corner,  or  there  was  not — either  there  are  thieves  in  the  world, 
or  there  are  not.  This  man  and  this  woman,  pointing  to  the 
akhon  and  my  mother,  have  not  done  that  which  all  the  rest 
have  done.  Perhaps  they  say  the  truth,  they  are  old,  and 
cannot  break  the  hard  grain.  Nobody  says  that  they  stole  the 
money — they  themselves  know  that  best,"  said  he,  looking  at 
them  through  and  through;  "but  the  famous  diviner,  Hazar- 
fuu,  he  who  was  truly  called  the  bosom  friend  to  the  Great 
Bear,  and  the  confidant  of  the  planet  Saturn, — he  who  could 
tell  all  that  a  man  has  ever  thought,  thinks,  or  will  think, — he 
hath  said  that  the  trial  by  rice  among  cowards  was  the  best  of 
all  tests  of  a  man's  honesty.  Now,  my  friends,  from  all  I  have 
remarked,  none  of  you  are  slayers  of  lions,  and  fear  is  easily 
produced  among  you.  However,  if  you  doubt  my  skill  in  this 
instance,  I  will  propose  a  still  easier  trial, — one  which  commits 
nobody,  which  works  like  a  charm  upon  the  mind,  and  makes 
the  thief  come  forward  of  his  own  accord,  to  ease  his  con- 
science and  purse  of  its  ill-gotten  wealth,  at  one  and  the  same 
time.  I  propose  the  Hak  reezi,  or  the  heaping  up  earth. 
Here  in  this  corner  I  will  make  a  mound,  and  will  pray  so 
fervently  this  very  night,  that,  by  the  blessing  of  Allah,  the 
Hajji,"  pointing  to  me,  "will  find  his  money  buried  in  it  to- 
morrow at  this  hour.  Whoever  is  curious,  let  them  be  present, 
and  if  something  be  not  discovered,  I  will  give  him  a  miscal  of 
hair  from  my  beard." 

He  then  set  to  work,  and  heaped  up  earth  in  a  corner,  whilst 
the  lookers  on  loitered  about,  discussing  what  they  had  just 
seen;  some  examining  me  and  the  dervish  as  children  of  the 
evil  spirit,  whilst  others  again  began  to  think  as  much  of  my 
mother  and  the  schoolmaster.  The  company  then  dispersed, 
most  of  them  promising  to  return  the  following  morning,  at  the 
appointed  time,  to  witness  the  search  into  the  heap  of  earth. 


CHAPTER   LI. 

THE    magician's    SUCCESS. 

I  MUST  own  that  I  began  now  to  look  upon  the  restoration 
of  my  property  as  hopeless.  The  diviner's  skill  had  certainly 
discovered  that  money  had  been  buried  in  my  father's  house, 
and  he  had  succeeded  in  raising  ugly  suspicions  in  my  mind 
against  two  persons  whom  I  felt  it  be  a  sin  to  suspect ;  but  I 
doubted  whether  he  could  do  more. 

However,  he  appeared  again  on  the  following  morning,  ac- 
companied lay  the  capiji,  and  by  several  of  those  who  had  been 
present  at  the  former  scene.  The  akhon,  however,  did  not 
appear,  and  my  mother  was  also  absent,  under  pretext  of  being 
obliged  to  visit  a  sick  friend.  We  proceeded  in  a  body  to  the 
mound,  and  the  Dervish  having  made  a  holy  invocation,  he 
approached  it  M'ith  a  sort  of  mysterious  respect. 

"Now  we  shall  see,"  said  he,  "whether  the  Gins  and  the 
Peris  have  been  at  w^ork  this  night :"  and  exclaiming  "  Bismil- 
lah .'"  he  dug  into  the  earth  with  his  dagger. 

Having  thrown  off  some  of  the  soil,  a  large  stone  appeared, 
and  having  disengaged  that,  to  the  astonishment  of  all,  and  to 
my  extreme  delight,  a  canvas  bag  well  filled  was  discovered. 

"Oh  my  soul  !  Oh  my  heart!"  exclaimed  the  humpback,  as 
he  seized  upon  the  bag,  you  sec  that  the  Dervish  Teez  Negah 
is  not  a  man  to  lose  a  hair  of  his  beard.  There,  there,"  said 
he,  putting  it  into  my  hand,  "  there  is  your  property  :  go,  and 
give  thanks  that  you  have  fallen  into  my  hands,  and  do  not  for- 
get my  hak  sai,  or  my  commission." 

Everybody  crowded  around  me,  whilst  I  broke  open  the  wax 
that  was  affixed  to  the  mouth  of  the  bag,  upon  which  I  recog- 
nized the  impression  of  my  father's  seal ;  and  eagerness  was 
marked  on  all  their  faces  as  I  untied  the  twine  with  which  it 
was  fastened.  My  countenance  dropped  woefully  when  I  found 
that  it  only  contained  silver,  for  I  had  made  up  my  mind  to  see 
gold.  Five  hundred  reak^  was  the  sum  of  which  I  became 
the  possessor ;  out  of  which  I  counted  fifty,  and  presented  them 
to  the  ingenious  discoverer  of  them.  "There,"  said  I,  "may 
your  house  prosper  1     If  I  were  rich  I  would  give  you  more : 

*  A  real  is  about  two  shillings — eight  reals^  one  tomaun. 

(285) 


286  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA, 

and  although  this  is  evidently  but  a  small  part  of  what  my 
father  (God  be  with  him !)  must  have  accumulated,  still  again  I 
say,  may  your  house  prosper,  and  many  sincere  thanks  to  you." 

The  Dervish  was  satisfied  with  my  treatment  of  him,  and  took 
his  leave,  and  I  was  soon  after  left  by  the  rest  of  the  company 
— the  capiji  alone  remaining.  "Famous  business  we  have 
made  of  it  this  morning,"  said  he.  "  Did  I  not  say  that  these 
diviners  performed  wonders." 

"Yes,"  said  I,  "yes,  it  is  wonderful,  for  I  never  thought  his 
operations  would  have  come  to  anything." 

Impelled  by  a  spirit  of  cupidity,  now  that  I  had  seen  money 
glistening  before  me,  I  began  to  complain  that  I  had  received 
so  little,  and  again  expressed  to  Ali  Mohamed  my  wish  of 
bringing  the  case  before  the  Cadi;  "for,"  said  I,  "if  I  am 
entitled  to  these  five  hundred  reals,  I  am  entitled  to  all  my  fa- 
ther left ;  and  you  will  acknowledge  that  this  must  be  but  a 
very  small  part  of  his  savings." 

"Friend,"  said  he,  "listen  to  the  words  of  an  old  man. 
Keep  what  you  have  got,  and  be  content.  In  going  before  the- 
Cadi,  the  first  thing  you  will  have  to  do  will  be  to  give  of  your 
certain,  to  get  at  that  most  cursed  of  all  property,  the  uncer- 
tain. Be  assured  that  after  having  drained  you  of  your  four 
hundred  and  fifty  reals,  and  having  got  five  hundred  from  your 
opponents,  you  will  have  the  satisfaction  to  hear  him  tell  you 
both  to  "go  in  peace,  and  do  not  trouble  the  city  with  your 
disputes."  Have  not  you  lived  long  enough  in  the  world  to 
liave  learnt  this  common  saying,  "Every  one's  teeth  are  blunted 
by  acids,  except  the  Cadi's,  which  are  by  .sweets  ?" 

"  The  Cadi  who  takes  five  cucumbers  as  a  bribe,  will  admit 
any  evidence  for  ten  beds  of  melons." 

After  some  deliberation,  I  determined  to  take  the  advice  of 
the  capiji ;  for  it  was  plain  that  if  I  intended  to  prosecute  any 
one,  it  could  only  be  ray  mother  and  the  akhon  ;  and  to  do  that, 
I  should  raise  such  a  host  of  enemies,  and  give  rise  to  such 
unheard-of  scandal,  tliat  perhaps  I  should  only  get  stoned  by 
the  populace  for  my  pains. 

"I  will  dispose  of  everything  I  have  at  Ispahan,"  said  I  to 
my  adviser,  "and,  having  done  that,  will  leave  it  never  to 
return,  unless  under  better  circumstances.  It  shall  never  see 
me  more,"  exclaimed  I,  in  a  vaporing  fit,  "unless  I  come  as 
one  having  authority." 

Little  did  I  think,  when  I  made  this  vain  speech,  how  dili- 
gently my  good  stars  were  at  work  to  realise  what  it  had 
expressed. 

The  capiji  applauded  my  intention ;  the  more  so,  as  he  took 


THE    magician's   SUCCESS.  287 

some  little  interest  that  my  resolutions  should  be  put  into  prac- 
tice ;  for  he  had  a  son,  a  barber,  whom  he  wished  to  set  up  in 
business ;  and  what  could  be  more  desirable,  in  every  respect, 
than  to  see  him  installed  in  the  shop  in  which  my  poor  father 
had  flourished  so  successfully,  close  to  his  post  at  the  caravan- 
serai ? 

He  made  proposals,  that  I  should  dispose  of  the  shop  and  all 
its  furniture  to  him,  which  I  agreed  to  do,  upon  the  evaluation 
of  some  well-known  brother  of  the  strap,  and  thus  I  was  re- 
lieved of  one  of  my  remaining  cares. 

As  for  my  father's  house  and  furniture,  notwithstanding  my 
feelings  at  the  recent  conduct  of  my  mother,  I  determined,  by 
way  of  acquiring  a  good  name,  (of  which  I  was  very  much  in 
want,)  to  leave  her  in  full  possession  of  them,  reserving  to 
myself  the  teynesouts,  or  deeds,  which  constituted  me  its  lawful 
owner. 

All  being  settled  and  agreed  upon,  I  immediately  proceeded 
to  work.  I  received  five  hundred  piastres  from  the  capiji  for 
my  shop  ;  for  he  also  had  been  a  great  accumulator  of  his  sav- 
ings, and  everybody  allowed  that  money  was  never  laid  out  to 
better  advantage,  since  the  shop  was  sure  to  enjoy  a  great  run 
of  business,  owing  to  its  excellent  situation.  I  therefore  be- 
came worth  in  all  about  one  hundred  and  ten  tomauns  in  gold, 
a  coin  into  which  I  changed  my  silver,  for  the  greater  facility 
which  it  gave  me  of  carrying  it  about  my  person.  Part  of 
this  I  laid  out  in  clothes,  and  part  in  the  purchase  of  a  mule, 
with  its  necessary  furniture.  I  gave  the  preference  to  a  mule, 
because,  after  mature  deliberation,  I  had  determined  to  aban- 
don the  character  of  a  sahib  shemsMr,  or  a  man  of  the  sword, 
in  which,  for  the  most  part,  I  had  hitherto  appeared  in  life, 
and  adopt  that  of  a  saJiib  calem,  or  a  man  of  the  pen,  for 
which,  after  my  misfortunes,  and  the  trial  which  I  had  in  some 
measure  made  of  it  at  Kom,  I  now  felt  a  predilection. 

"  It  will  not  suit  me,  now,  to  be  bestriding  a  horse,"  said  I 
to  myself,  "armed,  as  I  used  to  be,  at  all  points,  with  sword 
by  my  side,  pistols  in  my  girdle,  and  a  carbine  at  my  back.  I 
will  neither  deeply  indent  my  cap,  and  place  it  on  one  side,  as 
before,  with  my  long  curls  dangling  behind  my  ears,  but  wind  a 
shawl  round  it,  which  will  give  me  a  new  character ;  and,  more- 
over, clip  the  curls,  which  will  iuform  the  world  that  I  have 
renounced  it  and  its  vanities.  Instead  of  pistols,  I  will  stick  a 
roll  of  papers  in  my  girdle ;  and,  in  lieu  of  a  cartouche-box, 
sling  a  Koran  across  my  })erson.  Besides,  I  will  neither  walk 
on  the  tips  of  my  toes,  nor  twist  about  my  body,  nor  screw  up 
my  waist,  nor  thi'ow  my  shoulders  forward,  nor  swing  my  hands 


288  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA, 

to  and  fro  before  me,  nor  in  short  take  upon  myself  any  of  the 
airs  of  a  kasheng,  of  a  beau,  in  which  I  indulged  when  sub- 
deputy  to  the  chief  executioner.  No  ;  I  will,  for  the  future, 
walk  with  ray  back  bent,  my  head  slouching,  my  eyes  looking 
on  the  ground,  ray  hands  stuck  either  in  front  of  my  girdle,  or 
hanging  perpendicular  down  my  sides,  and  my  feet  shall  drag 
one  after  the  other,  without  the  smallest  indication  of  a  strut. 
Looking  one's  character  is  all  in  all ;  for  if,  perchance,  I  hap- 
pen to  say  a  foolish  thing,  it  will  be  counted  as  wisdom,  when 
it  comes  from  a  mortified  looking  face,  and  a  head  bound  round 
with  a  mollah's  shawl,  particularly  when  it  is  accompanied  with 
a  deep  sigh,  and  an  exclamation  of  Allah  ho  Akbar  I  or  Allah, 
Allah  it  Allah !  and  if,  perchance,  I  am  brought  face  to  face 
with  a  man  of  real  learning,  and  am  called  upon  to  sustain  my 
character,  I  have  only  to  look  wise,  shut  my  lips,  and  strictly 
keep  my  own  counsel.  Besides,  I  can  read ;  and,  with  the 
practice  that  I  intend  to  adopt,  it  will  not  be  long  before  I  shall 
be  able  to  write  a  good  hand : — that  alone,  by  enabling  me  to 
make  a  copy  of  the  Koran,  will  entitle  me  to  the  respect  of  the 
world." 

With  reflections  such  as  these  I  passed  my  time  until  it  was 
necessary  to  decide  whither  I  should  bend  my  steps.  Every- 
thing told  me  that  I  ought  to  make  the  most  of  the  good  im- 
pression which  I  had  left  behind  me,  on  the  minds  of  the 
mushtehed  of  Kom  and  his  disciples,  for  he  was  the  most  likely 
person  to  help  me  in  my  new  career :  he  might  recommend  me 
to  some  mollah  of  his  acquaintance,  who  would  take  me  as  his 
scribe  or  his  attendant,  and  teach  me  the  way  that  I  should  go. 
Besides,  I  left  him  so  abruptly  when  through  his  meaus  I  had 
been  released  from  ray  confinement  in  the  sanctuary,  that  I  felt  I 
had  a  debt  of  gratitude  still  to  pay.  "  I  will  take  him  a  pre- 
sent," said  I;  "he  shall  not  say  that  I  am  unmindful  of  his 
goodness."  Accordingly  I  turned  over  in  my  thoughts  what  I 
ought  to  present,  when  I  again  determined  upon  a  praying- 
carpet,  which  I  forthwith  purchased ;  reflecting,  at  the  same 
time,  that  it  would  make  a  comfortable  seat,  when  duly  folded, 
on  the  top  of  ray  mule's  pad. 

I  had  now  nearly  finished  all  that  I  had  to  do,  previous  to 
my  departure.  I  was  equipped  ready  for  my  journey,  and  I 
flattered  myself  that  my  outward  appearance  was  that  of  a  rigid 
mollah.  I  did  not  take  upon  myself  the  title  of  one,  but  rather 
left  that  to  circumstances ;  but,  in  the  meanwhile,  the  epithet 
of,  Hajji,  which  had  been  given  to  me  as  a  pet  name  when  I 
was  a  child,  now  came  very  opportunely  to  my  assistance,  to 
aid  me  to  sustain  my  new  character. 


A    PERSIAN    LAWYER.  289 

One  duty  I  had  still  to  accomplish,  and  that  was  to  pay  the 
expenses  of  my  father's  funeral.  I  do  own  that,  cheated  as  I 
had  been  of  my  lawful  patrimony,  I  felt  it  hard  that  such  an 
expense  should  fall  upon  me  ;  and  several  times  had  planned  a 
departure  from  Ispahan  unknown  to  anybody,  in  order  that  the 
burthen  might  fall  upon  the  akhon  and  my  mother,  to  whom  I 
had  intended  the  honor  of  payment ;  but  my  better  feelings  got 
the  mastery,  and  reflecting  that  by  acting  thus  I  should  render 
myself  fully  entitled  to  the  odious  epithet  of  peder  sukhteh* 
(one  whose  father  is  burnt,)  without  further  combat,  I  went 
round  to  each  of  the  attendants,  namely,  moUahs,  mourners,  and 
washers  of  the  dead,  and  paid  them  their  dues. 


CHAPTER  LII. 


A    PERSIAN    LAWYER. 


I  TOOK  leave  of  my  mother  without  much  regret,  and  she  did 
not  increase  the  tenderness  of  our  parting  by  any  great  ex- 
pression of  sorrow.  She  had  her  plans,  I  had  mine  ;  and,  con- 
sidering how  we  stood  circumstanced,  the  less  we  ran  in  each 
other's  way  the  better. 

I  mounted  my  mule  at  break  of  day,  and,  ere  the  sun  had 
past  its  meridian,  was  already  considerably  advanced  on  my 
road  to  Kom.  I  loitered  but  little  on  my  journey,  notwith- 
standing the  pleasures  which  a  halt  at  Kashan  might  have  af- 
forded me,  and  on  the  ninth  day  I  once  again  saw  the  gilded 
cupola  of  the  tomb  of  Fatimeh. 

Alighting  at  a  small  caravanserai  in  the  town,  I  saw  my  mule 
well  provided,  and  then,  with  my  present  to  the  mushtehed 
under  my  arm,  I  proceeded  to  his  house.  His  door  was  open 
to  every  one,  for  he  made  no  parade  of  servants  to  keep  the 
stranger  in  awe,  as  may  be  seen  at  the  houses  of  the  great  in 
Persia ;  and,  leaving  my  carpet  at  the  door  with  my  shoes,  I 
entered  the  room,  in  one  corner  of  which  I  found  the  good  man 
seated. 

He  immediately  recognized  me,  and,  giving  me  a  welcome 

*  Peder  sukliteh  is  tho  most  common  term  of  abuse  in  a  Persian's  mouth. 
It  implies  "  one  whose  father  is  burning  in  eternal  fires." 

25 


290  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

reception,  he  desired  rae  to  seat  myself,  which  I  did,  with  all 
proper  respect,  at  the  very  edge  of  the  felt  carpet. 

Pie  asked  me  to  relate  the  history  of  my  adventures  since  I 
left  Kom,  for  he  professed  himself  interested  in  my  fate ;  and, 
having  made  him  all  the  necessary  acknowledgments  for  pro- 
curing my  release  from  the  sanctuary,  I  related  all  that  had  be- 
fallen me.  I  also  told  him  what  a  calling  I  felt  within  me  to 
devote  myself  to  a  holy  life,  and  entreated  his  help  to  procure 
me  some  situation  in  which  I  might  show  my  zeal  for  the  in- 
terests of  the  true  faith. 

He  reflected  for  a  moment,  and  said,  "  that  very  morning  he 
had  received  a  letter  from  one  of  the  principal  men  of  the  law 
of  Tehran,  the  Mollah  Nadan,  who  was  much  in  want  of  one 
who  would  act  as  half  scribe  and  half  servant ;  one,  in  short, 
who  might  be  of  good  materials  for  a  future  mollah,  and  whom 
he  would  instruct  in  all  that  was  necessary  in  that  vocation. 

My  heart  leaped  within  me  when  I  heard  this,  for  it  was  pre- 
cisely the  place  that  my  imagination  had  created.  "Leave  it 
to  me,"  thought  I,  "to  become  a  whole  mollah,  when  once  I 
have  been  made  half  a  one." 

Without  hesitation  I  entreated  the  mushtehed  to  continue 
his  good  offices  in  my  behalf,  which  he  promised  to  do ;  and 
forthwith  addressed  a  small  note,  with  his  own  hand,  to  the 
Mollah  Nadan.  This  he  sealed,  and,  having  duly  fashioned  it 
into  its  proper  shape  with  his  scissors,  rolled  it  up  and  de- 
livered it  to  me  ;  saying,  "  Proceed  to  Tehran  immediately  ;  no 
doubt  you  will  find  the  place  vacant,  and  the  mollah  willing  to 
appoint  you  to  fill  it." 

I  was  so  happy  that  I  kissed  the  good  man's  hand  and  the 
hem  of  his  garment,  making  him  thousands  of  acknowledgments 
for  his  goodness. 

"I  have  one  more  favor  to  ask  of  master,"  said  I,  "  which 
is,  that  he  will  deign  to  accept  a  small  peish  kesh,  a  present 
from  his  humble  slave ;  it  is  a  praying  carpet,  and,  should  he 
honor  him  so  far  as  to  use  it,  he  hopes  that  now  and  then  he 
will  not  forget  the  donor  in  his  prayers." 

"May  your  house  prosper,  Hajji,"  said  he,  very  graciously, 
"  and  I  am  thankful  to  you  for  remembering  me,  not  that  there 
was  the  least  occasion  for  this  present.  Be  a  good  Mussulman, 
wage  war  against  the  infidels,  and  stone  the  sufis, — that  is  the 
only  return  I  ask  ;  and  be  assured  that,  by  so  doing,  you  will 
always  find  a  place  in  my  memory." 

I  then  presented  my  gift,  with  which  he  seemed  much  pleased ; 
and,  having  received  my  dismissal,  I  returned  to  my  caravan- 
serai, in  the  determination  of  pursuing  my  road  to  the  capital 


A    PERSIAN    LAWYER.  291 

as  fast  as  I  could.  I  did  not  even  give  myself  time  to  call  upon 
my  othei'  friends  at  Kora,  or  even  to  take  a  look  at  my  former 
unhappy  cell  in  the  sanctuary ;  but  saddling  my  mule,  I  pushed 
on  to  the  caravanserai  of  the  Pid-i-dallak  that  very  night. 

I  reached  Tehran  in  the  evening,  and,  in  order  not  to  see  the 
spot  in  which  the  unfortunate  Zeenab  was  buried,  I  made  a 
deviation  from  my  straight  road,  and  entered  by  the  Casbin 
gate.  I  was  happy  to  remark  that  I  was  not  recognized  by  the 
guards,  who,  when  I  was  in  office,  w'ere  accustomed  to  show 
themselves  on  the  alert  at  my  approach.  But  indeed  it  was  not 
surprising  that  the  active,  bustling,  imperious  Xasakchi  should 
not  be  known  under  the  garb  of  the  would-be  humble  and  in- 
significant priest ;  so  for  the  present  I  felt  secure  in  my  disguise, 
and  I  boldly  took  my  way  through  the  bazaars  and  the  most 
public  places  of  the  city,  where  formerly  nothing  but  my  face 
was  to  be  seen  ;  and  happy  was  I  to  find  that  no  one  recollected 
me.  I  inquired  my  way  to  the  house  of  the  mollah  Nadan, 
which  was  speedily  pointed  out,  for  he  was  a  well-known  cha- 
racter ;  but  on  second  thoughts,  I  deemed  it  more  prudent  and 
convenient  to  put  up  at  a  small  caravanserai,  situated  near  the 
house  of  my  new  master,  than  to  present  myself,  late  in  the  day 
as  it  then  was,  to  him,  upon  whom  it  was  my  interest,  by  my 
looks  and  appearance,  to  produce  the  best  possible  impression. 

Having  taken  good  care  of  my  mule,  I  slept  soundly  after 
the  fatigues  of  the  journey ;  and  the  next  morning  I  repaired  to 
the  bath,  where,  having  given  a  fresh  tinge  to  my  beard,  and 
plentifully  used  the  khena  to  my  hands  and  feet,  I  flattered  my- 
self that  in  appearance  I  was  precisely  the  sort  of  person  likely 
to  meet  with  success. 

The  moUah's  house  was  situated  between  the  royal  mosque 
and  the  quarters  of  the  camel  artillerymen,  and  neai-  to  the  en- 
trance of  the  bazaar,  which,  leading  by  the  gate  of  the  said 
mosque,  opens  at  its  other  extremity  immediately  on  the  ditch 
of  the  Shah's  palace.  It  had  a  mean  front ;  although,  having 
once  passed  through  the  gate,  the  small  court-yard  which  im- 
mediately succeeded  was  clean,  and  well  watered ;  and  the  room 
which  looked  into  it,  though  only  whitewashed,  had  a  set  of 
carpets,  which  did  not  indicate  wealth,  but  still  spoke  the 
absence  of  poverty. 

In  this  room  was  seated  a  wan  and  sickly-looking  priest, 
whom  I  took  to  be  the  master  of  the  house  ;  but  I  was  mistaken 
— he  was  in  his  anderun,  and  I  was  told  that  he  would  shortly 
make  his  appearance. 

In  order  to  make  known  my  pretensions  to  being  something 
more  than  a  servant,  I  sat  down,  and  entered  into  conversation 


293  THE    ADVENTURES   OF    HAJJI    BABA. 

with  the  priest,  who,  from  what  I  could  pick  from  him,  was  a 
dependant  upon  the  mollah.  He,  in  his  turn,  endeavored  to 
discover  what  my  business  could  be  :  but  he  did  not  so  well 
succeed,  although  the  strange  and  mysterious  questions  which 
he  put  drew  forth  my  astonishment. 

"You  are  evidently  newly  arrived  in  Tehran  ?"  said  he. 

"  Yes,  at  your  service,"  said  I. 

"  You  intend  probably  to  make  some  stay  ?"  added  he. 

"  That  is  not  quite  certain,"  said  I. 

Then,  after  a  pause,  he  said,  "It  is  dull  living  alone,  even 
for  a  week,  and  Tehran  is  a  city  full  of  enjoyment.  If  there  is 
any  service  that  I  can  perform,  I  will  do  it — upon  my  eyes 
be  it." 

"  May  your  kindness  never  be  less  !  My  business  is  with  the 
mollah  Nadan." 

"  There  is  no  difference  between  him  and  me,"  said  he.  "I 
can  facilitate  any  business  you  may  have ;  and,  praise  be  to 
Allah,  you  will  be  served  to  your  heart's  content.  We  have  at 
our  disposal  of  all  sorts  and  all  prices." 

"  I  am  not  a  merchant,"  said  I. 

"There  is  no  necessity  to  be  a  merchant,"  said  he;  "it  is 
enough  that  you  are  a  man  and  a  stranger.  You  will  find,  be 
it  for  a  year,  a  month,  a  week,  a  day,  or  even  an  hour,  that  you 
will  pass  your  time  agreeably:  upon  my  head  be  it." 

I  became  more  and  more  puzzled  at  his  meaning,  and  was  on 
the  point  of  asking  him  to  enlighten  my  understanding,  when 
the  mollah  Nadan,  in  person,  entered  the  room. 

He  was  a  tall,  handsome  man,  about  forty  years  of  age,  with  a 
jet-black  beard,  glossy  with  fresh  dye,  and  with  fine  brilliant 
eyes,  painted  with  the  powder  of  antimony.  He  wore  on  his 
head  an  immense  turban  of  white  muslin,  whilst  a  hirkeh,  or 
Arab  cloak,  with  broad  stripes  of  White  and  brown  alternately, 
was  thrown  over  his  shoulders.  Although  his  athletic  person 
was  better  suited  to  the  profession  of  arms,  than  to  that  of  the 
law,  yet  his  countenance  had  none  of  the  frankness  of  the  soldier, 
but  on  the  contrary  bespoke  cunning  and  design,  while  at  the 
same  time  it  announced  good  humor. 

I  got  up  at  his  approach,  and  immediately  presented  my  note 
from  the  mushtehed,  whilst  I  did  not  venture  again  to  sit. 
Having  unrolled  it,  he  looked  at  me  and  then  at  it,  as  if  to 
divine  what  could  be  my  business ;  but  as  soon  as  he  had  de- 
cyphered  the  seal,  his  face  expanded  into  a  bright  smile,  and  he 
requested  me  to  be  seated. 

"  You  are  welcome,"  said  he ;  and  then  he  asked  me  a  series 
of  questions  concerning  the  health  of  the  holy  man,  which  I 


A    NEW    SCHEME    FOR    RAISING    MONEY.  2&3 

freely  answered,  as  if  intimately  acquainted  with  him.  He  read 
the  note  with  great  attention,  but  said  not  a  word  of  its  con- 
tents. He  then  began  to  make  apologies  for  not  having  a 
kalian  (a  pipe)  to  offer  me,  "  for,"  said  he,  "I  am  not  a  smoker 
of  tobacco.  We,  who  rigidly  uphold  the  true  faith,  reject  all 
such  luxuries,  and  mortify  our  senses.  Our  Holy  Prophet  (upon 
whom  be  blessings  and  peace  !)  has  forbidden  to  his  followers 
whatever  intoxicates ;  and  although  tobacco  be  almost  uni- 
versally used  throughout  Persia  as  well  as  Turkey,  yet  it  is 
known  sometimes  to  obscure  the  understanding,  and  therefore 
I  abstain  from  it." 

He  continued  to  talk  about  himself,  his  fasts,  his  penance, 
and  his  self-mortification,  until  I  began  to  think  that  I  should 
pass  my  time  but  so  so  in  his  house,  nor  enjoy  the  delights  the 
priest  had  just  before  promised  me ;  but  when  I  compared  his 
healthy  and  rubicund  face,  his  portly  and  well-fed  body,  to  the 
regimen  which  he  professed  to  keep,  I  consoled  myself  by  the 
hope  that  he  allowed  great  latitude  in  his  interpretation  of  the 
law ;  and  perliaps  that  I  should  find,  like  the  house  which  he 
inhabited,  which  had  its  public  and  private  apartments,  that  his 
own  exterior  was  fitted  up  for  the  purposes  of  the  world,  whilst 
his  interior  was  devoted  to  himself  and  his  enjoyments. 


CHAPTER    LIIT. 

A    NEW    SCHEME    FOR    RAISING    MONEY. 

When  left  to  ourselves,  (for  the  priest  soon  after  quitted  the 
room,)  moUah  Xadan,  taking  the  mushtehed's  note  from  his 
breast,  said,  that  he  should  be  happy  to  receive  me  in  his  ser- 
vice upon  so  good  a  recommendation  ;  and  having  questioned 
me  upon  my  qualifications,  I  gave  such  answers,  that  he  ex- 
pressed himself  satisfied. 

"I  have  long  been  seeking  a  person  of  your  character,"  said 
he,  "  but  hitherto  without  success.  He,  who  just  left  us,  has 
assisted  me  in  ray  several  duties  ;  but  he  is  too  much  of  a  napak 
(an  intriguer)  for  my  purpose.  I  want  one  who  will  look  upon 
my  interest  as  his  own,  who  will  eat  his  bit  of  bread  with  me 
and  be  satisfied,  without  taking  a  larger  share  than  his  due." 

In  answer  to  this,  I  informed  tlie  mollah  that  although  I  had 
already  seen  much  of  the  world,  yet  he  would  find  in  me  a 
25* 


294  THE    ADVENTURES    OF    HAJJI    BABA. 

faithful  servant,  and  one  ready  to  imbibe  his  principles ;  for  (as 
I  had  already  explained  to  the  mnshtehed)  my  mind  was  made 
up  to  leading  a  new  life,  and  under  his  direction  to  become  the 
mirror  of  a  true  Mussulman. 

"  In  that,"  said  the  mollah,  "  esteem  yourself  as  the  most 
fortunate  of  men  ;  for  I  am  looked  up  to  as  the  pattern  of  the 
followers  of  the  blessed  Mohamed.  In  short,  I  may  be  called 
a  living  Koran.  None  pray  more  regularly  than  I.  No  one 
goes  to  the  bath  more  scrupulously,  nor  abstains  more  rigidly 
from  everything  that  is  counted  unclean.  You  will  find  neither 
silk  in  my  dress,  nor  gold  on  my  fingers.  My  ablutions  are 
esteemed  the  most  complete  of  any  man's  in  the  capital,  and 
the  mode  of  my  abstertion  the  most  in  use.  I  neither  smoke 
nor  drink  wine  before  men ;  neither  do  I  play  at  chess,  at 
genifeh,  (cards,)  or  any  game  which,  as  the  law  ordains,  ab- 
stracts the  mind  from  holy  meditation.  I  am  esteemed  the 
medel  of  fasters  ;  and  during  the  Ramazan  give  no  quarter  to 
the  many  hungry  fellows  who  come  to  me  under  various  pre- 
texts, to  beg  a  remission  of  the  strictness  of  the  law.  '  No,' 
do  I  say  to  them,  '  die  rather  than  eat,  or  drink,  or  smoke.  Do 
like  me,  who,  rather  than  abate  one  tittle  of  the  sacred  ordi- 
nance, would  manage  to  exist  from  Jumah  to  Jumah,  (Friday,) 
without  polluting  my  lips  with  unlawful  food.' " 

Although  I  did  not  applaud  his  tenacity  about  fasting,  yet  I 
did  not  fail  to  approve  all  he  said,  and  threw  in  my  exclama- 
tions so  well  in  time,  that  I  perceived  he  became  almost  as 
much  pleased  with  me  as  he  appeared  to  be  with  himself 

"  From  the  same  devotedness  to  religion,"  continued  he,  "I 
have  ever  abstained  from  taking  to  myself  a  wife,  and  in  that 
respect  I  may  be  looked  upon  as  exceeding  even  the  perfection 
of  our  Holy  Prophet;  who,  (blessings  attend  his  beard!)  had 
wives  and  women  slaves,  more  even  than  Suleiman  ibn  Daoud 
himself  But  although  I  do  not  myself  marry,  yet  I  assist 
others  in  doing  so  ;  and  it  is  in  that  particular  branch  of  my 
duty  in  which  I  intend  more  especially  to  employ  you." 

"By  my  eyes,"  said  I,  "you  must  command  me;  for  hitherto 
I  am  ignorant  as  the  Turk  in  the  fields." 

"  You  must  know,  then,"  said  he,  "  that  to  the  scandal  of 
religion,  to  the  destruction  of  the  law,  the  commerce  of  cowlies, 
or  courtezans,  had  acquired  such  an  ascendancy  in  this  city, 
that  wives  began  to  be  esteemed  as  useless.  Men's  houses 
were  ruined,  and  the  ordinances  of  the  Prophet  were  disre- 
garded. The  Shah,  who  is  a  pious  prince,  and  respects  the 
Ullemah,  and  who  holds  the  ceremony  of  marriage  sacred,  com- 
plained to  the  head  of  the  law,  the  Mollah  Bashi,  of  this  sub- 


A   NEW    SCHEME    FOR    RAISING    MONET.  295 

version  of  all  morality  in  his  capital,  and,  with  a  reprimand  for 
remissness,  ordered  him  to  provide  a  remedy  of  the  evil.  The 
Mollah  Bashi,  (between  you  and  I,  be  it  said,)  is  in  every  de- 
gree an  ass — one  who  knows  as  much  of  religion,  and  its  duties, 
as  of  Frangistan  and  its  kings.  But  I — I,  who  am  the  Mollah 
Nadan — I  suggested  a  scheme  in  which  the  convenience  of  the 
public  and  the  ordinances  of  the  law  are  so  well  combined,  that 
both  may  be  suited  without  hindrance  to  either.  You  know 
it  is  lawful  among  us  to  marry  for  as  long  or  as  short  a  time  as 
may  be  convenient;  and,  in  that  case,  the  woman  is  called 
muti.^^  "Why  then?"  said  I,  to  the  chief  priest,  "  why  not 
have  a  sufficient  number  of  such  like  wives  in  store,  for  those 
who  know  not  where  to  seek  for  a  companion  ?  The  thing  is 
easy  to  be  done,  and  Nadan  the  man  to  do  it." 

"  The  Mollah  Bashi,  who,  though  the  cream  of  blockheads  in 
all  other  cases,  is  very  quick-sighted  when  his  interest  is  con- 
cerned, caught  at  my  idea,  for  he  foresaw  a  great  harvest  of 
gain  for  himself.  He  consequently  acquired  possession  of 
several  small  houses  of  little  value,  in  which  he  has  installed  a 
certain  number  of  women,  who,  through  his  interference,  are 
married,  in  the  character  and  with  the  privileges  of  muties,  to 
whoever  is  ambitious  of  such  a  marriage  ;  and  as  both  parties  on 
such  occasions  pay  him  a  fee,  he  has  thus  very  considerably  in- 
creased his  revenues.  So  eagerly  do  the  people  marry  that  he 
has  several  mollahs  at  work,  wholly  engaged  in  reading  the 
marriage  ceremony.  He  has  entirely  excluded  me  from  any 
share  in  his  profits — I,  who  first  suggested  the  plan  ;  and  there- 
fore I  am  determined  to  undertake  the  business  myself,  and 
thus  add  to  the  public  convenience.  But  we  must  be  secret ; 
for  if  the  Mollah  Bashi  was  to  hear  of  my  scheme,  he  would 
interpose  his  authority,  overthrow  it,  and  perhaps  have  me  ex- 
pelled the  city." 

During  this  exposure  of  the  mollah's  plans,  I  began  to  look 
at  him  from  head  to  foot,  and  to  question  within  myself  whether 
this  in  fact  could  be  the  celebrated  pillar  of  the  law,  of  whom 
the  mushtehed,  good  man  I  had  spoken  in  snch  high  terras. 
However,  I  was  too  new  in  -holy  life  to  permit  any  scruples 
against  the  fitness  of  such  schemes  to  come  across  my  mind ;  so 
I  continued  to  applaud  all  that  Nadau  had  said,  and  he  con- 
tinued as  follows  : 

"I  have  ali'eady  three  women  in  readiness,  established  in  a 
small  house  in  the  neighborhood,  and  it  is  my  intention  to  em- 
ploy you  in  the  search  of  husl^ands  for  them.  You  will  frequent 
the  caravanserais,  watching  tlie  arrival  of  merchants  and  other 
strangers,  to  whom  yon  will  propose  marriage,  upon  easier  terms 


296  THE    ADVENTURES    OF    HAJJI    BABA. 

than  the  chief  priest  can  offer,  and  according  to  the  riches  of  the 
bridegroom  you  will  exact  a  proportionate  fee.  I  shall  not 
give  you  any  wages,  because  you  will  have  opportunities  of  ac- 
quiring such  knowledge  from  me,  that  in  time  you  may  become 
a  mollah  yourself,  and  show  the  road  to  all  true  believers  in  the 
practices  of  their  duty.  You  will  hnd  everything  provided  for 
you  in  my  house  ;  and,  now  and  then,  opportunities  will  offer  for 
putting  something  honestly  into  your  pocket.  Whenever  my 
friends  come  to  see  me,  and  when  they  take  their  sham  (dinner) 
with  me,  you  will  appear  as  my  servant ;  on  other  occasions  you 
may  sit  before  me,  and  act  as  my  scribe." 

The  mollah  here  finished  speaking,  in  the  expectation  of  hear- 
ing what  I  should  say  in  answer ;  but  I  was  so  bewildered  by 
this  vast  field  of  action  that  he  had  opened  to  my  view,  that  it 
took  me  some  minutes  to  recollect  myself.  I,  who  had  expected 
to  lead  the  life  of  a  recluse,  to  sit  in  a  corner  all  the  day  long, 
reading  my  Koran,  or  mumbling  prayers — to  frequent  lectures 
in  the  medressehs,  (schools,)  and  homilies  in  the  mosques, — I,  in 
short,  who  in  my  master  expected  to  have  found  a  despiser  of 
this  world's  goods,  and  full  of  no  other  care  than  that  of  pre- 
paring for  the  next, — of  a  sudden  was  called  upon  to  engage 
more  deeply  in  the  business  of  life  than  before,  and  to  follow  the 
footsteps  of  a  man  who  seemed  to  exist  for  no  other  purpose 
than  to  amass  wealth,  and  acquire  consideration.  "However, 
I  can  but  try,"  thought  I.  My  circumstances  were  too  desperate 
to  admit  of  much  hesitation ;  and,  after  all,  to  be  the  pupil  of 
one  of  the  most  celebrated  men  of  the  capital,  was  a  situation 
not  to  be  despised ;  and  so  I  accepted  of  the  mollah's  offer. 

He  then  told  me  that  we  should  soon  have  some  further  con- 
versation, which,  for  the  present,  be  was  obliged  to  defer,  be- 
cause he  was  called  upon  to  attend  the  chief  of  the  law ;  but, 
before  he  went,  he  mentioned,  that  as  he  abstained  from  worldly 
pomp,  he  kept  no  servants  but  such  as  were  absolutely  ne- 
cessary. His  establishment  consisted  of  a  cook,  and  a  servant 
who  acted  in  the  triple  capacity  of  head-servant,  valet,  and 
groom  ;  and  his  stud,  for  the  present,  was  composed  of  one  ass. 
"  After  considerable  trouble,"  said  he,  "  I  have  managed  to  pro- 
cure a  white  one,  which,  you  know,  is  an  animal  that  confers 
consideration  on  its  rider ;  but,  as  my  business  and  my  dignity 
increase,  I  intend  to  promote  myself  to  a  mule."  I  did  not 
lose  this  opportunity  of  informing  him  that  I  had  a  very  good 
one  to  dispose  of ;  and,  after  some  negotiation,  it  was  decided 
that  we  should  keep  both  mule  and  ass  ;  he,  as  the  dignitary, 
riding  the  former,  whilst  I  should  be  carried  about  on  the  hum- 
bler beast. 


CHAPTER   LIV. 

HAJJI    BABA    BECOMES    A    MARRIAGE    BROKER. 

Preparatory  to  the  fall  coraprebension  of  the  duties  of  my 
office,  the  Mollah  Nadan  requested  me  to  introduce  myself  to  the 
muties,  and  gain  from  them  sufficient  information  to  enable  me 
to  make  a  register,  in  which  I  should  insert  their  ages,  appear- 
ance, and  beauty,  tempers,  and  general  qualifications  as  wives. 
This  I  should  carry  about  me,  in  order  to  be  able  to  exhibit  it 
to  any  stranger  who  might  fall  in  my  way. 

I  first  went  to  the  bazaar,  and  furnished  myself  with  a  priest's 
cloak,  with  a  coat  that  buttons  across  the  breast,  and  a  long 
piece  of  white  muslin,  which  I  twisted  round  my  head.  Thus 
accoutred,  in  the  full  dress  of  my  new  character,  I  proceeded  to 
the  women's  house,  and  found  a  ready  admission,  for  they  had 
been  apprised  of  my  intended  visit. 

I  found  them  all  three  seated  in  a  mean  and  wi'etched  apart- 
ment, smoking.  Their  veils  were  loosely  thrown  over  their 
heads,  which,  upon  my  appearance,  by  a  habit  common  to  all 
our  women,  they  drew  tight  over  their  faces,  merely  keeping 
one  eye  free. 

"  Peace  be  unto  you,  khannms  !"  said  I,  (for  I  knew  how  an 
appearance  of  great  respect  conciliates,) — "  I  am  come,  on  the 
part  of  the  Mollah  Nadan,  to  make  you  a  tender  of  my  humble 
services ;  and  perhaps,  as  you  know  the  object  of  my  visit,  you 
will  not  object  to  lay  your  veils  on  one  side." 

"  May  you  abide  in  peace,"  said  they,  "  mollah  I"  and  then 
gave  me  to  understand,  by  many  flattering  speeches,  that  I  was 
welcome,  and  that  they  hoped  my  presence  would  bring  them 
good  luck. 

Two  of  them  immediately  unveiled,  and  discovered  faces 
which  had  long  bade  adieu  to  their  lilies  and  roses  ;  and  upon 
which,  notwithstanding  the  help  of  the  sunnch  round  the  eye- 
lids, the  blue  stars  on  the  forehead  and  chin,  and  the  rouge  on 
the  cheeks,  I  could,  in  broad  characters,  make  out  a  long  cata- 
logue of  wrinkles.  The  third  lady  carefully  continued  to  keep 
herself  veiled. 

I  did  not  hesitate  to  make  an  exclamation  of  surprise,  as 
soon  as  the  two  charmers  had  opened  their  battery  of  smiles 
upon  me.     "Praises  to  Allah!  Mashallak!"  said  I,  "this  is 

(29t) 


2-98  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

a  sight  worthy  of  Ferhad  himself.  Do  not  look  too  intensely 
upon  me,  for  fear  that  I  consume.  What  eyes  !  what  noses  I 
what  lips  !  Have  pity  upon  me,  and  cease  looking.  But  why," 
said  I,  "does  tliis  khanum" — (pointing  to  the  unveiled  one) — 
"  why  does  she  hold  me  so  long  in  suspense  ?  Perhaps  she 
thinks  me  unworthy  of  contemplating  her  charms;  and  she 
thinks  right,  for  I  am  only  a  poor  mollah,  whilst  doubtless  even 
the  sun,  in  all  its  majesty,  is  not  entitled  to  such  high  privi- 
lege." 

"  Why  do  you  make  this  naz,^''  (coyness,)  said  her  companions 
to  her;  "you  know  he  must  be  able  to  give  an  account  of  us, 
or  else  the  curse  of  single  life  will  be  our  fate,  and  we  shall  re- 
main the  scorn  and  reproach  of  womankind." 

"  Be  it  so,"  said  the  third  woman  ;  "  the  cat  must  come  from 
under  the  blanket;"  and,  in  a  sort  of  pet,  she  drew  off  her 
veil,  and,  to  my  great  astonishment,  exhibited  to  my  view  the 
well-known  features  of  the  wife  of  the  Shah's  physician,  my 
former  master. 

"  By  all  that  is  most  sacred  !  by  the  beard  of  the  blessed 
Prophet!"  said  I,  "  how  is  this  ?  Are  the  gins  at  wark,  that 
they  should  have  brought  this  about  ?" 

"Yes,  Hajji,"  said  she,  very  composedly,  "fate  is  a  wonder- 
ful thing.  But  you,  you  who  killed  my  husband,  how  came 
you  to  be  a  mollah  ?" 

"  Is  your  husband  dead,  then,"  said  I,  "  that  you  talk  to  me 
thus  ?  Why  do  you  throw  words  away  in  this  unguarded  man- 
ner ?  What  have  I  to  do  with  your  husband's  death  ?  He 
was  once  my  master,  and  I  grieve  for  his  loss.  But  you  might 
as  well  say  that  I  killed  the  martyr  Hoseiu  (blessings  on  his 
memory !)  as  that  I  killed  the  hakim.  Tell  me  what  has  hap- 
pened ;  for  I  am  walking  round  and  round  in  the  labyrinth  of 
ignorance." 

"Why  do  you  pretend  ignorance,"  said  she  with  her  usual 
scream,  "  when  you  must  know  that  it  was  on  your  account  that 
the  Shah  sent  Zeenab  out  of  this  world — that  her  death  led  to 
the  doctor  having  his  beard  plucked — that  having  his  beard 
plucked  brought  on  his  disgrace — and  his  disgrace  death? — 
therefore  you  are  the  cause  of  all  the  mischief." 

"  What  ashes  are  you  heaping  upon  my  head,  0  khanum  ?" 
said  I,  with  great  vehemence',  "  why  am  I  to  be  told  that  I  am 
the  death  of  a  man,  when  I  was  a  hundred  parasangs  off  at 
the  time  ?  You  might  as  well  say,  if  your  husband  had  died 
of  a  surfeit,  that  the  laborer  who  had  planted  the  rice  was  the 
cause  of  his  death." 

We  continued  to  argue  for  some  time,  when  the  other  women, 


HAJJI  BABA  BECOMES  A  MARRIAGE  BROKER,        299 

fearing  that  their  interests  would  be  neglected,  interposed,  and 
put  me  in  mind  that  we  had  business  to  transact ;  for  they  were 
anxious  that  their  charms  should  no  longer  lie  barren  and  ne- 
glected. The  khanum,  too,  who  only  talked  for  talking  sake, 
and  who,  to  my  knowledge,  had  cherished  a  more  than  common 
hatred  for  her  husband,  seemed  anxious  that  I  should  forget 
her  former  more  flourishing  situation,  and  requested  me  to  pro- 
ceed to  business. 

Still,  to  carry  on  the  farce  of  respect,  I  began  first  with  the 
doctor's  widow,  and  requested  to  know  some  of  the  particulars 
of  her  history ;  in  order,  when  I  came  to  describe  her  to  some 
impatient  bridegroom,  I  might  be  able  to  do  so  in  the  best 
manner  for  her  interests. 

"  You  know  as  well  as  I,"  said  she,  "  that  I  once  enjoyed  the 
favor  of  that  rose  in  the  paradise  of  sweets,  the  King  of  Kings  ; 
that  I  was  the  first  beauty  in  his  harem,  and  the  terror  of  all 
my  rivals.  But  who  can  withstand  the  decrees  of  destiny  ?  A 
new  woman  arrived,  who  was  provided  with  a  more  powerful 
spell  than  I  could  possess  for  securing  the  Shah's  love,  and  she 
destroyed  my  power.  She  feared  my  charms  so  much,  that  she 
would  not  rest  until  I  was  expelled ;  and  then,  for  my  misfor- 
tune, the  Shah  made  a  present  of  me  to  his  chief  physician. 
Oh,  I  shall  never  forget  the  pangs  of  my  mind,  when  I  was 
transferred  from  the  glories  and  delights  of  the  royal  palace  to 
the  arms  of  the  doctor,  and  to  a  residence  among  physic  and 
gallipots !  I  will  not  repeat  all  the  history  of  Zeenab.  When 
the  hakim  died,  I  endeavored  to  revive  the  Shah's  good  feel- 
ings towards  me  ;  but  the  avenues  to  his  ear  were  closed  ;  and 
from  one  stage  of  misery  to  another,  I,  who  once  could  lead 
the  viceregent  of  Allah  by  the  beard,  am  reduced  to  seek  a 
husband  in  the  highway." 

Upon  this  she  began  to  cry  and  bemoan  her  cruel  destiny  ; 
but  I  in  some  measure  pacified  her,  by  the  assurance  that  I 
would  do  all  in  my  power  to  procure  for  her  a  suitable  mate. 

"  You  see,"  said  she,  that  I  am  still  handsome,  and  that  the 
career  of  my  youth  is  yet  to  run.  Look  at  my  eyes  : — have 
they  lost  their  brightness  ?  Admire  my  eyebrows.  Where 
will  you  meet  with  a  pair  that  are  so  completely  thrown  into 
one  ?     Then  see  my  waist — it  is  not  a  span  round." 

She  went  on  in  full  enumeration  of  her  most  minute  perfec- 
tions, upon  which  I  gazed  with  all  my  eyes,  as  she  desired  ;  but, 
instead  of  youth  and  beauty,  I  could  make  nothing  better  of 
her  than  an  old  fat,  and  bloated  hag,  upon  whom  I  longed  to 
revenge  myself,  for  her  former  ill-treatment  to  the  unfortunate 
Zeenab. 


300  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

The  other  two  ladies  then  gave  me  a  sketch  of  their  lives. 
One  was  the  widow  of  a  silversmith,  who  had  been  blown  from 
a  mortar  for  purloining  some  gold,  which  he  had  received  to 
make  a  pair  of  candlesticks  for  the  king ;  and  the  other  had 
turned  muti  in  her  own  defence,  having  been  abandoned  by  her 
husband,  who  had  fled  from  the  wrath  of  the  Shah,  and  sought 
refuge  among  the  Russians. 

They  also  endeavored  to  persuade  me  that  they  were  young 
and  handsome,  to  which  I  agreed  with  as  good  a  grace  as  I  was 
able  ;  and,  having  made  the  necessary  notes  in  my  register,  I 
promised  to  exert  myself  to  the  best  for  their  advantage.  "  Re- 
collect," said  one,  "  that  I  am  only  eighteen."  "  Don't  forget," 
said  another,  "  that  I  am  still  a  child."  "  Always  keep  in  mind 
my  two  eyebrows  that  look  like  one,"  roared  out  the  hakim's 
widow. 

"  Upon  my  eyes  be  it,"  exclaimed  I,  as  I  left  the  room;  and 
then  I  consoled  myself  for  the  sight  of  such  a  trio  of  frights, 
by  giving  vent  to  a  peal  of  anathemas  and  laughter. 


CHAPTER  LV. 

OLD    ACQUAINTANCES — A   MARRIAGE. 

Having  accomplished  this  part  of  my  business,  I  strolled  to 
one  of  the  most  frequented  caravanserais  in  the  city,  to  see 
whether,  perchance,  some  circumstance  might  not  turn  up  to 
advance  my  master's  views.  As  I  approached  it,  I  found  all 
the  avenues  blocked  up  with  mules  and  camels  heavily  laden,  in- 
termixed with  travelers,  some  of  whom  wearing  a  white  band, 
the  distinguishing  mark  of  the  pilgrims  who  have  visited  the 
tomb  of  Iman  Reza,  at  Meshed,  informed  me  that  the  caravan 
came  from  the  province  of  Khorassan.  I  waited  to  see  it 
gradually  unravel  from  the  maze  of  the  narrow  streets,  and, 
after  a  due  allowance  of  wrangling  and  abuse  between  the  mule 
and  camel  drivers,  I  saw  it  take  up  its  abode  in  the  square  of 
the  building. 

"  Perhaps,"  said  I,  "  my  good  stars  may  throw  some  of  my 
former  acquaintance  at  Meshed  into  my  way ;"  and  I  looked 
at  each  traveler  with  great  earnestness.  It  was  true  that  many 
years  had  now  elapsed  since  my  memoi'able  bastinado,  and  that 
time  would  have  made  great  changes  in  the  appearance  of  men  ; 


OLD    ACQUAINTANCES A    MARRIAGE.  301 

but  still,  I,  who  knew  each  face  by  heart,  and  had  studied  its 
expression  as  it  inhaled  my  smoke — hoped  that  my  recollection 
would  not  fail  me. 

I  had  despaired  of  making  a  discovery,  and  was  about  to 
walk  away,  when  a  certain  nose,  a  certain  round  back,  and  a 
certain  projecting  paunch,  met  my  eye,  and  arrested  my  atten- 
tion. 

"  Those  forms  are  familiar  to  me,"  said  I ;  "  they  are  con- 
nected with  some  of  ray  early  ideas  ;  and  assuredly  are  the  pro- 
perty of  one  who  is  something  more  than  a  common  acquaint- 
ance. My  first  master,  Osman  Aga,  came  into  my  mind ;  but 
all  idea  of  him  I  immediately  banished,  because  it  was  more 
than  certain  that  he  had  long  since  fallen  a  victim  to  the  hor- 
rors of  his  captivity  among  the  Turcomans.  Still  I  looked  at 
him,  and  at  every  glance  I  felt  convinced  it  was  either  him,  his 
brother,  or  his  ghost.  I  approached  to  where  he  was  seated, 
in  the  hope  of  hearing  him  speak ;  but  he  seemed  to  be  torpid, 
(which  was  another  characteristic  in  favor  of  my  suspicion,)  and 
I  had  waited  sometime  in  vain,  when,  to  my  surprise,  I  heard 
him,  in  a  voice  well  known  to  my  ears,  inquire  of  a  merchant 
who  was  passing,  "  In  God's  name,  what  may  be  the  price  of 
lamb's  skins  at  Constantinople  ?" 

"  Oh,  for  once,"  said  I,  "  I  cannot  be  mistaken  !  You  can 
be  no  one  but  Osman,"  and  I  immediately  made  myself  known 
to  him. 

He  was  as  slow  to  believe  that  it  was  Hajji  Baba  who  ac- 
costed him,  as  I  had  been  to  make  him  out  Osman  Aga. 

After  our  expressions  of  mutual  astonishment  had  somewhat 
subsided,  we  began  to  survey  each  other. 

I  discussed  the  grayness  of  his  beard,  and  he  complimented 
me  upon  the  beauty  and  blackness  of  mine.  He  talked  with 
great  serenity  of  the  lapse  of  time,  and  of  the  nothingness  of 
this  world,  from  which  I  perceived  that  his  belief  in  predestina- 
tion had  rather  increased  than  diminished  by  his  misfortunes, 
and  which  alone  could  account  for  the  equanimity  with  which 
he  bad  borne  them.  In  his  usual  concise  manner,  he  related 
what  had  befallen  him  since  we  last  met.  He  said,  that  after 
the  first  feelings  of  misery  at  his  captivity  had  gone  by,  his 
time  passed  more  agreeably  than  he  had  expected ;  for  he  had 
nothing  to  do  but  to  sit  with  the  camels,  whose  nature  being 
of  the  same  calm  and  philosophic  cast  as  his  own,  suited  his 
quiet  and  sedentary  habits.  His  food  was  indifferent,  but  then 
he  had  excellent  water :  and  the  only  privation  which  he 
seemed  to  regret  was  tobacco,  a  want  which  long  previous 
habit  rendered  infinitely  painful.  Years  had  run  on  in  this 
26 


802  THE    ADVENTURES    OF    IIAJJI    BABA. 

manner,  and  he  had  made  up  his  mind  to  pass  the  remainder 
of  his  life  with  the  camels,  when  his  destiny  took  another  turn, 
and  he  once  more  had  the  cheering  hope  of  being  restored  to 
liberty.  One,  who  gave  himself  out  for  a  prophet,  appeared 
among  the  Turcomans.  According  to  the  custom  of  such  per- 
sonages, he  established  his  influence  by  pretending  to  work  two 
or  three  miracles,  and  which  were  received  as  such  by  that 
credulous  people.  His  word  became  a  law.  The  most  cele- 
brated and  experienced  marauders  freely  laid  their  spoils  at  his 
feet,  and  willingly  listed  under  his  banner,  in  whatever  enter- 
prise he  chose  to  propose.  Osman  Aga  presented  himself  be- 
fore him,  asserted  his  privileges  of  a  siini,  and,  moreover,  of 
being  an  emir,  and  at  length  succeeded  in  making  the  impostor 
procure  his  liberty,  without  ransom,  which  he  did,  in  order  to 
advance  the  glory  of  the  true  faith.  Once  free,  he  lost  no  time 
in  proceeding  to  Meshed,  where,  to  his  great  good  fortune,  he 
met  merchants  from  Bagdad,  one  of  whom  being  nearly  con- 
nected to  him  by  marriage,  advanced  him  a  small  sum  of  money 
to  trade  with.  He  received  encouraging  accounts  of  the  state 
of  the  Turkish  markets  for  the  produce  of  Bokhara,  and  thither 
he  proceeded  to  make  his  purchases  on  the  spot.  Owing  to 
his  long  residence  among  the  Turcomans,  he  had  acquired 
much  useful  knowledge  concerning  their  manners  and  customs 
■ — particularly  on  the  subject  of  buying  and  selling — and  this 
enabled  him  to  trade,  with  much  success,  between  Bokhara  and 
Persia,  until  he  had  gained  a  sufiBcient  sum  to  enable  his  return 
to  his  country  with  advantage.  He  was  now  on  the  road  to 
Constantinople,  with  several  mules  laden  with  the  merchandize 
of  Bokhara,  Samarcand,  and  the  east  of  Persia  ;  and,  having 
disposed  of  it  there.  It  was  then  his  intention  to  return  to  his 
native  city,  Bagdad.  He  expressed,  however,  his  intention  to 
remain  at  Tehran  until  the  spring  caravan  should  assemble,  in 
order  to  enjoy  some  of  the  pleasures  of  an  imperial  residence, 
after  having  lived  so  long  among  savages,  as  he  called  the 
Turcomans,  and  he  inquired  from  me  how  he  might  agreeably 
pass  his  time. 

My  fair  charges  immediately  came  into  my  mind  ;  and  recol- 
lecting of  old  that  he  was  a  great  advocate  for  the  marriage 
state,  I  proposed  a  wife  to  him  without  loss  of  time. 

Certainly,  thought  I,  nothing  was  ever  more  strongly  pro- 
nounced than  the  doctrine  of  predestination  has  been  in  this 
instance.  Here,  one  of  my  masters  arrives  from  regions  beyond 
the  rising  of  the  sun,  to  espouse  the  widow  of  another  of  my 
masters,  who  dies  just  at  the  very  nick  of  time  to  produce  the 


OLD    ACQUAINTANCES A    MARRIAGE.  303 

meeting,  which  I,  who  come  from  the  countries  of  the  south, 
step  in  to  promote. 

The  hakim's  widow  was  the  fattest  of  the  three,  and  therefore 
I  made  no  scruple  in  proposing  her  to  Osraan,  who  at  once  ac- 
ceded to  my  offer.  Softening  down  the  little  asperities  of  her 
temper,  making  much  of  her  two  eyebrows  in  one,  and  giving 
a  general  description  of  her  person,  suited  to  the  Ottoman  taste, 
I  succeeded  in  giving  a  very  favorable  opinion  to  the  bride- 
groom of  his  intended. 

I  then  proceeded  to  inform  the  Mollah  Nadan  of  my  success, 
who  appeared  to  listen  with  delight  to  the  adventures  of  this 
couple,  which  I  related  to  him  with  scrupulous  detail.  He  di- 
rected me  how  to  proceed,  and  informed  me,  in  order  to  make 
the  marriage  lawful,  that  a  vakeel,  or  trustee,  must  appear  on 
the  part  of  the  woman,  and  another  on  that  of  the  man.  That 
the  woman's  vakeel  having  beforehand  agreed  upon  the  terms 
of  the  marriage,  proceeded  to  ask  the  following  questions  of 
the  man's  vakeel  in  the  Arabic  tongue. 

"  Have  you  agreed  to  give  your  soul  to  me  upon  such  and 
such  conditions  ?"  to  which  the  other  answers,  "  I  have  agreed  ;" 
and  then  the  parties  are  held  to  be  lawfully  joined  together. 
Nadan  himself  proposed  to  officiate  on  the  part  of  the  hakim's 
vv-idow,  and  I  on  the  part  of  Osman  ;  and  it  was  left  to  my 
ingenuity  to  obtain  as  large  a  fee  as  possible  for  ourselves  on 
this  happy  occasion. 

I  forthwith  communicated  the  joyful  tidings  to  the  khanum, 
as  I  still  called  her,  who  did  not  fail  to  excite  the  envy  of  her 
other  companions,  for  she  immediately  laid  her  success  to  her 
superior  beauty,  and  to  the  never-failing  object  of  her  care,  her 
two  eyebrows  in  one.  She  was,  as  the  reader  may  be  allowed 
to  suppose,  in  great  anxiety  at  her  appearance;  for  she  dreaded 
not  being  corpulent  enough  for  her  Turk,  and  from  what  I 
could  judge,  rather  doubted  the  brilliancy  of  her  eye,  from 
the  great  quantity  of  black  paint  which  she  had  daubed  on  her 
eyelids. 

I  left  her  to  return  to  Osman  Aga,  who,  good  man,  was  also 
arming  himself  for  conquest ;  and  he  seemed  to  think  that, 
owing  to  his  long  residence  among  camels,  he  might  have  im- 
bibed so  much  of  their  natures  as  to  have  become  a  fit  subject 
for  the  perfumes  of  musk  and  ambergrease.  Accordingly,  he 
went  to  the  bath  ;  his  grey  beard  was  dyed  a  glossy  black ;  his 
hands  received  a  golden  tinge  ;  and  his  moustaches  were  invited 
to  curl  upwards  towards  the  corners  of  his  eyes,  instead  of 
downwards  into  his  mouth,  as  they  usually  had  done. 

He  then  arrayed  himself  in  his  best,  and  followed  me  to  the 


304  THE    ADVENTURES    OF   HAJJI   BABA. 

house  of  Mollah  Nadan,  where,  owing  to  this  change  in  his  ap- 
peace,  he  very  well  passed  ofiF  for  a  man  at  least  ten  years 
younger  than  he  was  in  reality. 

As  soon  as  the  parties  came  in  sight  of  each  other,  an  un- 
concerned bystander  would  have  been  amused  with  their  first 
glances — he,  the  bridegroom,  endeavoring  to  discover  what  he 
was  about  to  espouse — she,  the  bride,  making  play  with  her  veil 
in  such  an  artful  manner  as  to  induce  his  belief  that  it  con- 
cealed celestial  charms.  But  I  was  too  deeply  interested  in 
the  game  to  make  it  matter  of  amusement.  Besides,  more  than 
once,  a  certain  fifty  ducats  that  had  once  belonged  to  Osman, 
and  which  I  had  apropriated  to  my  own  use,  came  into  my 
mind,  and  made  me  fear  that  it  also  might  have  a  place  in  his  : 
"and  if,"  said  I,  "he  gets  displeased  and  angry,  who  knows 
what  ashes  may  not  fall  upon  my  head  !" 

However,  they  were  married  ;  and  I  believe  most  truly,  that 
he  did  not  succeed  in  getting  one  glimpse  of  his  intended  until 
I  had  pronounced  the  awful  words,  "  I  agree  ;"  when  in  his  im- 
patience he  partly  pulled  her  veil  on  one  side,  and  I  need  not 
Bay  that  he  was  far  from  fainting  with  delight. 

As  soon  as  he  was  well  satisfied  that  his  charmer  was  not  a 
Zuleika,  he  called  me  to  him,  and  said,  "  Hajji,  I  thought  that 
youth,  at  least,  she  would  have  possessed;  but  she  is  more 
wrinkled  than  any  camel.     How  is  this  ?" 

_  I  got  out  of  the  scrape  as  well  as  I  was  able,  by  assuring 
iiim  that  she  had  once  been  the  flower  of  the  royal  harem,  and 
reminded  him  that  nothing  had  so  much  to  do  with  marriage  as 
destiny. 

"Ah!  that  destiny,"  said  he,  "is  an  answer  for  everything; 
but  be  its  effects  what  it  may,  it  can  no  more  make  an  old  hag 
a  young  woman,  than  it  can  make  one  and  one  three." 

Sorely  did  I  fear  that  he  would  return  his  bargain  upon  our 
hands  ;  but  when  he  found  that  it  was  impossible  to  expect 
anything  better  in  a  muti,  a  class  of  females,  who  generally 
were  the  refuse  of  womankind— old  widows,  and  deserted  wives ; 
and  who,  rather  than  live  under  the  opprobrium  that  single  life 
entails  in  our  Mohamedan  countries,  would  put  up  with  any- 
thing that  came  under  the  denomination  of  husbands,  he 
agreed  to  take  her  to  his  home.  I  expected,  like  a  hungry 
hawk,  who,  the  instant  he  is  unhooded,  pounces  upon  his  prey, 
that  Osman,  as  soon  as  he  had  got  a  sight  of  his  charmer, 
would  have  carried  her  oif  with  impatience ;  but  I  was  disap- 
pointed. He  walked  leisurely  on  to  his  room  in  the  caravan- 
serai, and  told  her  that  she  might  follow  him  whenever  it  suited 
ner  convenience. 


CHAPTER  LVI. 

A  lawyer's  ambition  proves  his  rcin. 

Upon  a  closer  acquaintance  with  my  master,  the  Mollah 
Nadan,  I  found  that,  besides  his  being  the  most  covetous  of 
men,  he  was  also  the  most  ambitious ;  and  that  his  great  and 
principal  object  was  to  become  the  chief  priest  of  Tehran.  To 
that  he  turned  all  his  thoughts,  and  left  nothing  untried  which 
might  bring  him  into  notice,  either  as  a  zealous  practiser  of  the 
ordinances  of  his  religion,  or  a  persecutor  of  those  who  might 
be  its  enemies.  He  was  the  leader  in  prayer  at  the  principal 
mosque  ;  he  lectured  at  the  royal  medresseh,  or  college ;  and, 
whenever  he  could,  he  encouraged  litigants  to  appeal  to  him 
for  the  settlement  of  their  disputes.  On  every  occasion,  par- 
ticularly at  the  festival  of  the  No  Rouz,  when  the  whole  corps 
of  moUahs  are  drawn  up  in  array  before  the  king,  to  pray  for 
Lis  prosperity,  he  always  managed  to  make  himself  conspicuous 
by  the  over-abundance  of  adulation  which  he  exhibited,  and 
by  making  his  sonorous  voice  predominate  over  that  of  others. 

By  such  means,  he  had  acquired  considerable  celebrity 
among  the  people,  although  those  who  knew  him  better  held 
liim  in  no  great  estimation.  An  opportunity  soon  occurred 
which  abundantly  proved  this,  and  which,  as  I  will  now  nar- 
rate, gave  an  entire  new  turn  to  my  fortunes. 

The  winter  had  passed  over  our  heads,  and  spring  was 
already  far  advanced,  when  reports  reached  the  capital,  that  in 
the  southern  provinces  of  the  kingdom,  particularly  in  Lar 
and  Ears,  there  had  been  such  a  total  want  of  rain,  that  serious 
apprehensions  of  a  famine  were  entertained.  As  the  year 
rolled  on,  the  same  apprehensions  prevailed  in  the  more  northern 
provinces;  and  a  drought,  such  as  before  was  never  known, 
gave  rise  to  the  most  dismal  forebodings.  The  Shah  ordered  that 
prayers  should  be  put  up  at  all  the  mosques  in  the  city  for  rain, 
and  the  Mollah  Bashi  was  very  active  in  enforcing  the  order. 

My  master  Nadan  had  here  too  good  an  opportunity  of 
manifesting  his  religious  zeal,  and  of  making  himself  conspicu- 
ous by  his  exertions,  not  to  take  advantage  of  it ;  and  he  lost 
not  a  moment  in  giving  himself  all  the  stir  in  his  power.  Con- 
scious of  the  influence  he  had  obtained  over  the  populace,  he 
went  a  step  farther  than  his  rival  the  chief  priest,  and  invited 
26*  (305) 


306  THE    ADVENTURES    OF    HAJJI    BABA, 

an  immense  crowd  of  the  lower  orders,  to  follow  bim  to  a  large 
open  space  without  the  city,  where  he  took  the  lead  in  prayer. 

The  drought  still  continuing,  the  iShah  ordered  all  ranks  of 
people  to  attend  him,  and  join  in  the  supplications  which  he 
had  first  commenced.  He  accounted  this  so  great  a  triumph, 
that  his  zeal  knew  no  bounds.  He  caused  all  sects.  Christians, 
Jews,  and  Guebres,  as  well  as  Mussulmen,  to  put  up  their 
prayers ;  still  the  heavens  were  inexorable ;  no  rain  came,  the 
despair  increased,  and  Nadan  redoubled  his  zeal. 

At  length,  one  morning  when  the  weather  was  more  than 
usually  sultry,  he  addressed  a  mob  which  he  had  purposely 
gathered  I'ound  his  house,  in  words  something  to  this  purpose : 

"  Is  there  nothing  more  to  be  done,  0  men  of  Tehran  !  to 
avert  this  misfortune  which  awaits  the  land  of  Irak  ?  'Tis  plain 
that  the  heavens  have  declared  against  us,  and  that  this  city 
contains  some,  whose  vices  and  crimes  must  bring  the  Almighty 
vengeance  upon  us.  Who  can  they  be  but  the  Kafirs,  the  infi- 
dels, those  transgressors  of  our  laws,  those  wretches  who  defile 
the  purity  of  our  walls  by  openly  drinking  wine,  that  liquor 
forbidden  by  our  holy  Prophet,  (upon  whom  be  blessing  and 
peace  !)  and  by  making  our  streets  the  scene  of  their  vices  ? 
Let  us  go  ;  follow  me  to  where  these  odious  wine-bibbers  live ; 
let  us  break  their  jars,  and  at  least  destroy  one  of  the  causes 
of  the  displeasure  of  Allah  against  us." 

Upon  this  a  general  stir  ensued ;  and  fanaticism,  such  as  I 
never  thought  could  be  excited  in  the  breasts  of  men,  broke 
out  in  the  most  angry  expressions,  which  were  only  the  fore- 
runners of  the  violence  that  soon  after  ensued.  Nadan,  putting 
himself  at  the  head  of  the  crowd,  haranguing  as  he  pressed  on- 
wards, and  followed  by  me — who  had  become  as  outrageous  a 
fanatic  as  the  rest — led  us  to  the  Armenian  quarter  of  the 
city. 

The  peaceable  Christians,  seeing  this  body  of  enraged  Mo- 
hamedans  making  for  their  houses,  knew  not  what  to  do.  Some 
barricaded  their  doors,  others  fled,  and  others  again  stood 
transfixed,  like  men  impaled.  But  they  did  not  long  remain  in 
doubt  of  our  intentions ;  for  first  they  were  assailed  with 
volleys  of  stones,  and  then  with  such  shouts  of  execration  and 
abuse,  that  they  expected  nothing  less  than  a  general  massacre 
to  ensue. 

The  mollah  entered  the  houses  of  the  principal  Armenians, 
followed  by  the  most  violent  of  the  mob,  and  began  an  active 
search  for  wine.  He  made  no  distinction  between  the  women's 
apartments  and  the  public  ones,  but  broke  open  every  door  ; 
and  when  at  length  he  had  found  the  jars  in  which  the  liquor 


A  lawyer's  ambition  proves  his  ruin.  sot 

was  contained,  I  leave  the  reader  to  imagine  what  was  the 
havoc  which  ensued.  They  were  broken  into  a  thousand  pieces  ; 
the  wine  flowed  in  every  direction  ;  and  the  poor  owners  could 
do  nothing  but  look  on  and  wring  their  hands. 

By  the  time  that  this  ceremony  had  been  performed  in  every 
house,  the  fury  of  the  mob  had  risen  to  the  utmost,  and  from 
the  houses  they  proceeded  to  the  church,  which  being  forced 
open,  they  demolished  every  thing  within, — books,  crucifixes, 
ornaments,  furniture, — nothing  was  spared  ;  and  as  there  would 
not  be  wanting  abundance  of  rogues  on  such  occasions,  it  was 
soon  discovered  that  whatever  valuables  the  despoiled  had  pos- 
sessed were  carried  away. 

The  ruin  was  now  complete  ;  and  nothing  more  was  left  to 
the  fury  of  the  mob  but  the  unfortunate  sufferers  themselves, 
who  perhaps  would  next  have  been  attacked,  had  not  a  king's 
ferash  appeared,  accompanied  by  one  of  the  principal  Arme- 
nians, and  their  presence  produced  an  almost  instantaneous 
return  to  reason. 

Apprehensive  of  the  consequences  of  their  conduct,  all  Na- 
dan's  followers  made  a  precipitate  retreat,  leaving  that  revered 
personage  and  myself  to  face  the  king's  officer.  I  presume  our 
feelings  will  not  be  mnch  envied  when  we  heard  him  inform  us, 
that  the  King  of  Kings  demanded  our  immediate  presence. 
The  mollah  looked  at  me,  and  I  at  him  ;  and,  perhaps,  two 
bearded  men  never  looked  more  like  raw  fools  than  we  did  at 
that  moment.  He  endeavored  to  temporise,  and  requested  our 
conductor  to  accompany  him  to  his  house,  in  order  that  he 
might  put  on  his  red  cloth  stockings. 

"  There  will  be  no  occasion  for  red  cloth  stockings,"  said 
the  ferash,  drily. 

This  produced  an  universal  tremor  in  the  mollah,  and  I  must 
own  that  it  communicated  itself  to  me  in  no  agreeable  manner. 
"But  what  have  I  done,  in  the  name  of  the  Prophet?"  ex- 
claimed he: — "the  enemies  of  our  faith  must  be  overthrown. 
Is  it  not  so  ?"  said  he  to  the  ferash. 

"  You  will  see,"  returned  the  impenetrable  man  of  blows. 

We  at  length  reached  the  palace,  and  at  the  entrance  found 
the  Grand  Vizier,  seated  with  the  Mollah  Bashi,  in  the  chief 
executioner's  apartment. 

As  we  stood  at  the  window,  the  t'l'and  Vizier  said  to  the 
Mollah  Nadan,  "  In  the  name  of  Ali,  what  is  this  that  we 
hear  ?  Have  your  wits  forsaken  you  ?  Do  you  forget  that 
there  is  a  king  in  Tehran  ?" 

Then  the  Mollah  Bashi  exclaimed,  "  And  who  am  I,  that 
you  should  presume  to  take  the  lead  against  the  infidels  ?" 


308  .  THE    ADVENTURES    OF    HAJJI    BABA. 

"  Conduct  them  before  the  king,"  exclaimed  the  executioner, 
as  he  arose  and  took  his  staff  of  ofBce  in  hand.  "  Do  not  keep 
the  Centre  of  the  Universe  waiting." 

More  dead  than  alive,  we  were  paraded  through  the  avenues 
of  the  palace,  and  then  stepped  through  the  small  low  door, 
which  introduced  us  into  the  enclosed  garden,  where  we  found 
the  king  seated  in  an  upper  room. 

As  we  approached,  I  perceived  the  august  monarch  twisting 
his  mostaches,  which  is  always  esteemed  a  sign  of  wrath.  I 
cast  a  glance  at  Nadan,  and  I  saw  him  streaming  from  every 
pore.  We  took  our  shoes  off,  as  soon  as  we  had  come  within 
sight  of  him,  and  advanced  to  the  brink  of  the  marble  basin  of 
water.  The  party  who  stood  before  the  king  consisted  of  the 
Mollah  Bashi,  the  chief  executioner,  the  Armenian,  Nadan,  and 
myself. 

The  chief  executioner  then  placed  his  staff  of  office  on  the 
ground,  and,  making  a  low  prostration,  said,  with  all  the  pre- 
fatory form  of  words  usual  in  addressing  the  Shah,  "  This  is 
the  Mollah  Nadan,  and  this  is  his  servant,"  pointing  to  me. 

"  Say,  mollah,"  said  the  king,  addressing  himself  to  my 
master  in  a  very  composed  tone  of  voice,  "  how  long  is  it  since 
you  have  undertaken  to  ruin  my  subjects  ?  Who  gave  you  the 
power  ?  Have  yon  become  a  prophet  ?  or  do  you  perhaps  con- 
descend to  make  yourself  the  lung  ?  Say,  fellow,  what  dirt  is 
this  that  you  have  been  eatiug  ?" 

The  culprit,  who  on  every  other  occasion  never  wanted  words, 
here  lost  all  power  of  utterance.  He  stammered  out  a  few  in- 
coherent sentences  about  infidels,  wine,  and  the  want  of  rain, 
and  then  remained  immoveable. 

"What  does  he  say?"  said  the  king  to  the  Mollah  Bashi 
"  I  have  not  learnt  from  whom  he  claims  his  authority." 

"  May  I  be  your  sacrifice,"  said  the  chief  priest ;  "  he  says, 
that  he  acted  for  the  benefit  of  your  majesty's  subjects  who 
wanted  rain,  which  they  could  not  get  so  long  as  the  infidels 
drank  wine  in  Tehran." 

"  So  you  destroy  part  of  my  subjects  to  benefit  the  remainder ! 
By  the  king's  beard,"  said  the  king  to  Nadan,  "tell  me,  do  I 
stand  for  nothing  in  my  own  capital  ?  Are  a  parcel  of  poor 
dogs  of  infidels  to  be  ruined  under  my  nose,  without  my  being- 
asked  a  question  whether^it  be  my  will  or  not  that  they  should 
be  so  ?  Speak  man  ;  what  dream  have  you  been  dreaming  ? 
Your  brain  has  driod  up."  Then  raising  his  voice,  he  said, 
"  After  all,  we  are  something  in  our  dominions,  and  the  knfirs, 
though  such  they  be,  shall  know  it.  Here,  ferashes,  (calling  his 
ofiicers  to  him,)  here,  tear  this  wretch's  turban  from  his  head, 


AN   EXTRAORDINARY   ADVENTURE    IN   THE   BATH.  309 

and  his  cloak  from  his  back  ;  pluck  the  beard  from  his  chin ; 
tie  his  hands  behind  him,  place  him  on  an  ass  with  his  face  to 
the  tail,  parade  him  through  the  streets,  and  then  thrust  him 
neck  and  shoulders  out  of  the  city,  and  let  his  hopeful  disciple 
(pointing  to  me)  accompany  him." 

Happy  was  I  not  to  have  been  recognized  for  the  lover  of 
the  unfortunate  Zeenab.  My  fate  was  paradise  compared  to 
that  of  my  master ;  for  never  was  order  more  completely  exe- 
cuted than  that  which  had  passed  the  Shah's  lips. 

Nadan's  beard  was  ripped  from  his  chin  with  as  much  ease 
by  the  ferashes  as  if  they  were  plucking  a  fowl ;  and  then,  with 
alDundance  of  blows  to  hasten  our  steps,  they  seized  upon  the 
first  ass  which  they  met,  and  mounted  the  priest,  the  once 
proud  and  ambitious  priest,  upon  it,  and  paced  him  slowly 
through  the  streets.  I  walked  mournfully  behind,  having  had 
my  moilah's  shawl  torn  from  my  head,  and  my  hirkeh  (cloak) 
from  my  back. 

When  we  had  reached  one  of  the  gates  Nadan  was  dis- 
mounted, and,  with  scarcely  a  rag  to  our  backs,  we  were  turned 
out  into  the  open  country ;  and  it  is  worthy  of  remark,  that  no 
sooner  had  we  left  the  city  than  rain  began  to  pour  in  torrents, 
as  if  the  heavens  had  been  waiting  to  witness  the  disgrace  of 
two  of  Persia's  greatest  rogues,  and  to  give  the  Mollah  Nadan 
the  lie  in  favor  of  the  poor,  injured,  and  ruined  Armenians. 


CHAPTER   LVIT. 

AN    EXTRAORDINARY    ADVENTURE    IN    THE    BATH. 

"So,"  said  I  to  my  companion,  as  soon  as  we  were  left  to 
ourselves,  "so  I  am  indebted  to  you  fur  this  piece  of  happiness. 
If  I  had  thought  that  this  adventure  was  to  have  been  the 
result  of  the  mushtehed's  recommendation,  you  would  never 
have  seen  Hajji  Baba  in  this  trim.  What  could  it  signify  to 
you  whether  rain  fell  or  no,  or  whether  the  Armenians  got  drunk 
or  remained  sober  ?  This  is  what  we  have  got  by  your  officious- 
ness." 

The  mollah  was  in  too  pitiable  a  condition  for  me  to  continue 
upbraiding  him  any  longer.  We  walked  in  silence  by  the  side 
of  each  other  in  the  saddest  manner  possible,  until  we  reached 
the  first  village  on  our  road.     Here  we  made  a  halt,  in  order  to 


310  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

deliberate  upon  what  we  should  do.  My  unfortunate  companion 
was  expelled  the  city,  therefore  it  ^yas  impossible  for  him  to 
show  himself  in  it  until  the  storm  had  blown  over  ;  but  as  we 
were  both  very  anxious  to  know  what  had  become  of  our  respec- 
tive properties — he  of  his  house  and  effects,  I  of  my  clothes  and 
mule — it  was  determined  that  I  shoidd  return  and  gain  the 
necessary  intelligence. 

I  entered  Tehran  in  the  evening,  and,  making  myself  as  little 
recognizable  as  possible,  I  slunk  through  the  streets  to  the 
mollah's  house.  At  the  first  glimpse  I  discovered  that  we  were 
entirely  ruined;  for  it  was  in  possession  of  a  swarm  of  harpies 
who  made  free  property  of  everything  that  fell  under  their  hands. 
One  of  the  first  persons  whom  T  met  coming  from  it  was  the 
very  ferash  who  had  been  sent  by  the  Shah  to  conduct  us  to  his 
presence  ;  and  he  was  mounted  on  my  mule,  with  a  bundle  in 
his  lap  before  him,  doubtless  containing  my  wardrobe  or  that 
of  the  mollah. 

So  borne  down  was  I  by  this  sight,  and  so  fearful  of  being 
discovered,  that  I  hurried  away  from  the  spot ;  and,  scarcely 
knowing  whither  I  was  bending  my  steps,  I  strolled  into  a 
bath,  situated  not  far  from  the  house  of  our  enemy  the  chief 
priest. 

I  went  in,  undressed  myself,  and,  it  being  almost  dark,  I  was 
scarcely  perceived  by  the  bathing  attendants.  Going  from  the 
first  heated  room  into  the  hottest  of  all,  1  there  took  my  sta- 
tion in  a  dark  recess,  unseen  by  any  one,  and  gave  free  course 
to  my  thonghts.  I  considered  to  what  I  could  now  possibly 
turn  ray  hands  for  a  livelihood  ;  for  fortune  seemed  to  have 
abandoned  me  for  ever,  and  it  appeared  that  I  was  marked  out 
for  the  stricken  deer,  as  the  choice  game  of  misfortune. 

"I  no  sooner  fall  in  love,"  said  I,  musing,  "than  the  king 
himself  becomes  my  rival,  slays  my  mistress,  and  degrades  me 
from  my  employment.  I  am  the  lawful  heir  to  a  man  of  un- 
doabted  wealth  :  he  lives  just  long  enough  to  acknowledge  me; 
and  although  everybody  tells  me  that  I  ought  to  be  rich,  yet 
1  have  the  mortification  to  see  myself  cheated  before  my  face, 
and  I  turn  out  a  greater  beggar  than  ever.  The  most  devout 
and  powerful  man  of  the  law  in  Persia  takes  a  fancy  to  me, 
and  secures  to  me  what  I  expect  will  be  a  happy  retreat  for 
life  :  my  master  in  an  evil  hour  prays  for  the  blessings  of  heaven 
to  be  poured  upon  us,  instead  of  which  we  are  visited  with  its 
vengeance,  driven  as  exiles  from  the  city,  and  lose  all  our  pro- 
perty." Never  did  man  count  up  such  a  sum  of  miseries  as  I 
did  when  seated  in  the  corner  of  the  bath.     The  world  seemed 


AN  EXTRAORDINARY  ADVENTURE  IN  THE  BATH.      311 

for  ever  gone  from  me,  and  I  wished  for  nothing  better  than  to 
die  in  the  very  spot  in  which  I  had  nestled  myself. 

The  bath  had  now  been  almost  entirely  abandoned  by  the 
bathers,  when  of  a  sudden  a  stir  ensued,  and  I  perceived  a  man 
walk  in,  with  a  certain  degree  of  parade,  whom,  through  the 
glimmering  of  light  that  was  still  left,  I  recognized  to  be  the 
Mollah  Bashi  in  person.  Neither  he  nor  his  attendants  per- 
ceived me  ;  and  as  soon  as  he  was  left  to  himself,  (for  so  he 
thought,)  he  immediately  got  into  the  reservior  of  hot  water,  or 
the  hazneh,  (the  treasury,)  as  it  is  called  in  the  baths  of  Persia. 

Here  I  heard  him  for  some  time  splashing  about  and  puffing 
with  all  his  might ;  a  sort  of  playfulness  which  struck  me  as  re- 
markable for  so  grave  and  sedate  a  character ;  and  then  a  most 
unusual  floundering,  attended  with  a  gurgling  of  the  throat, 
struck  my  ear.  I  conceived  that  he  might  be  practising  some 
extraordinary  bodily  exercise,  and  curiosity  impelled  me  to  rise 
gently  from  my  corner,  and,  with  all  the  precaution  possible, 
to  steal  softly  on  the  tips  of  my  toes  to  the  aperture  of  the 
reservoir  and  look  in. 

To  my  horror,  I  perceived  the  head  of  the  law  at  his  last  gasp, 
apparently  without  a  struggle  left  in  him.  It  was  evident  that 
he  had  been  seized  with  a  fit,  and  had  been  drowned  before  he 
could  call  for  help. 

All  the  terrible  consequences  of  this  unfortunate  event  stared 
me  full  in  the  face.  What  can  now  hinder  me,  said  I,  from 
being  taken  up  as  his  murderer?  Everybody  knew  how  evilly 
my  master,  the  Mollah  [N'adan,  was  disposed  against  him,  and  I 
shall  be  called  the  vile  instrument  of  his  enmity. 

Whilst  making  these  reflections,  standing  upon  the  step  that 
leads  into  the  reservior,  the  Mollah  Bashi's  servant,  followed  by 
a  bathing  attendant,  came  in,  with  the  warm  linen  that  is  used 
on  leaving  the  bath ;  and  seeing  a  man  apparently  coming  out 
of  the  water,  naturally  took  me  for  the  deceased,  and  without 
any  words  proceeded  to  rub  mc  down  and  to  put  on  the  bathing 
linen.  This  gave  me  time  for  thought ;  and  as  I  foresaw  aa 
adventure  that  might  perhaps  lead  me  safely  out  of  the  scrape 
into  which  my  destiny  had  thrown  me,  I  let  it  take  its  course, 
and  at  once  resolved  to  personify  the  chief  priest. 

A  dim  lamp,  suspended  from  on  high,  was  the  only  light  that 
shone  in  the  large  vault  of  the  dressing  room  ;  and  as  1  happened 
to  be  about  the  size  and  stature  of  tlie  deceased,  his  servants, 
who  were  without  suspicion,  very  naturally  took  me  fur  their 
master.  I  had  known  and  seen  a  great  deal  of  him  dur- 
ing my  stay  with  the  ]\lollah  Nadan,  and  therefore  was  suffi- 
ciently acquainted  with  the  manners  of  the  man,  to  be  able  to 


312  THE  ADVENTURES  OP  HAJJI  BAB  A. 

copy  bim  for  the  short  time  it  would  take  to  be  attended  upon 
by  his  servants,  until  we  reached  his  house.  The  most  difficult 
part  of  the  imposture  would  be,  when  I  should  enter  the  women's 
apartments;  for  I  was  quite  unacquainted  with  the  locality  there, 
and  totally  ignorant  of  the  sort  of  footing  he  was  upon  with  the 
inmates  of  his  anderun.  Indeed,  I  once  heard  that  he  was  a 
perfect  tyrant  over  the  fairer  part  of  the  creation  ;  and  as  mnch 
gossip  was  carried  on  at  my  master's,  it  came  to  my  recollec- 
tion, that  it  had  been  said  he  waged  a  continued  war  with  his 
lawful  wife,  for  certain  causes  of  jealousy  which  his  conduct  was 
said  to  promote.  He  was  a  man  of  few  words,  and  when  he 
spolic  generally  expressed  himself  in  short  broken  sentences  ; 
and  as  he  affected  to  use  words  of  Arabic  origin  on  all  occasions, 
more  guttural  sounds  obtruded  themselves  upon  the  ear  than 
are  generally  heard  from  those  who  talk  pure  Persian. 

I  did  not  permit  myself  to  open  my  lips  during  the  whole  time 
that  I  was  dressing.  I  kept  my  face  in  shade  as  much  as  pos- 
sible ;  and  when  the  water-pipe  was  offered  to  me,  I  smoked  it 
in  the  manner  that  I  had  seen  the  chief  priest  do  ;  that  is,  tak- 
ing two  or  three  long  whiffs,  and  then  disgorging  a  seemingly 
Interminable  stream  of  smoke. 

One  of  the  servants  appeared  to  be  struck  by  something  unusual, 
as  I  pronounced  my  Khoda  hajiz!  to  the  owner  of  the  bath  upon 
leaving  it ;  but  all  suspicion  was  at  an  end  when  they  felt  the 
weight  which  I  gave  myself,  as  they  helped  me  to  mount  the  horse 
that  was  in  waiting. 

I  deliberately  dismounted  at  the  gate  of  the  house  of  the 
deceased  ;  and  although  I  bungled  about  the  passages,  yet,  fol- 
lowing the  man  who  seemed  to  act  as  the  confidential  servant, 
I  carae  to  the  little  door  which  leads  into  the  anderun.  I  per- 
mitted him  to  do  what  he  no  doubt  was  daily  accustomed  to  do, 
and  just  as  he  had  opened  the  door,  and  I  had  advanced  two 
or  three  paces,  he  shouted  out, '  Gheragh  hiar,^  bring  lights,  and 
and  then  retired. 

A  clatter  of  slippers  and  womens'  voices  were  then  immedi- 
ately heard,  and  two  young  slaves  came  running  towards  me 
with  tapers  in  their  hands,  apparently  striving  who  should  first 
reach  me. 

The  largest  apartment  of  the  building  was  lighted  up,  and  I 
could  perceive  in  it  more  women  than  one.  That  I  took  to  be 
the  I'esidence  of  the  principal  personage,  the  now  widow  of  the 
deceased  ;  and  I  dreaded  lest  the  slaves  should  conduct  me 
thither.  But,  aided  by  my  good  stars,  I  must  have  fallen  upon 
a  most  propitious  moment,  when  the  Mollah  Bashi  and  his  wife 
had  quarrelled ;  an  event  which  seemed  to  be  understood  by  my 


OF   THE    CONSEQUENCES    OF   THE    ADVENTURE.  313 

coaductors,  who,  seeing  me  unwilling  to  proceed  to  the  lighted 
apartment,  drew  me  on  to  a  door  which  led  into  a  small  inner 
court,  where  I  found  a  kJielwet,  or  retiring  room,  into  which 
they  introduced  me. 

How  to  get  rid  of  them  was  my  next  care ;  for  as  they  had 
walked  before  me,  they  could  not  have  got  a  sight  of  my  face, 
and  had  they  entered  the  room  with  me,  perhaps  they  would 
have  made  a  discovery  fatal  to  my  safety.  I  took  the  light  from 
the  hand  of  one,  and  dismissed  the  other  with  a  sign  of  the 
head.  Had  I  been  the  same  inconsiderate  youth  as  at  the  time 
of  my  acquaintance  with  Zeenab,  perhaps  I  should  have  com- 
mitted some  act  of  imprudence  that  might  have  led  to  my  dis- 
covery :  but  now  I  eyed  the  two  young  slaves  with  apprehension 
and  even  with  terror ;  and  certainly  one  of  the  most  agreeable 
moments  of  my  existence  was,  when  I  saw  them  turn  their  backs 
upon  me  and  leave  me  to  my  own  meditations.  The  change  in 
my  fortune,  which  had  taken  place  during  the  last  hour,  was  so 
unexpected,  that  I  felt  like  one  treading  between  heaven  and 
earth ;  and  my  first  impulse,  upon  finding  myself  in  safety,  after 
having  got  over  the  most  difficult  part  of  the  imposture,  was  at 
one  moment  to  exult  and  be  joyful,  and  at  another  to  shiver  with 
apprehension  lest  my  good  fortune  might  abandon  me. 


CHAPTER  LVIII. 

OF  THE  CONSEQUENCES  o'f  THE  ADVENTURE. 

I  CAREFULLY  fastened  the  inside  of  my  door  as  soon  as  I  was 
left  to  myself,  and  put  my  candle  in  so  remote  a  corner  of  the 
room,  that  if  any  one  was  curious  to  look  through  the  painted 
glass  window,  they  could  never  discover  that  I  was  not  the 
Mollah  Bashi. 

Having  done  this,  it  then  struck  me  that  something  more 
might  be  elicited  from  this  adventure  than  I  had  at  first  im- 
agined. "  Let  me  inspect  the  good  man's  pockets,"  said  I,  "  and 
the  roll  of  paper  in  his  girdle ;  perhaps  they  may  contain  the 
history  of  my  future  plans."  In  his  right  hand  pocket  were  two 
notes,  a  rosary,  and  his  seals.  In  the  left,  his  ink-stand,  a  small 
looking-glass,  and  a  comb.  His  watch  was  kept  in  the  breast 
of  his  coat,  and  in  another  small  pocket,  nearlj  under  his  arm- 
pit, was  his  purse. 

The  purse  first  came  under  inspection,  and  there  I  found  five 
27 


314  THE    ADVENTURES    OF    HAJJI    BABA. 

toraauns  ia  gold  and  two  pieces  of  silver.  The  watch  was  gold, 
and  of  English  manufacture.  His  ink-stand,  beautifully  painted, 
was  also  valuable,  and  contained  a  penknife,  scissors,  and  pens. 
All  these  and  the  other  trinkets  I  duly  looked  upon  as  my  own, 
(for  I  was  determined  to  play  the  whole  game,)  and  I  replaced 
them  in  their  proper  places  on  my  person.  The  notes  then 
came  under  inspection.  One  was  to  this  purpose,  without 
a  seal. 

"  O  friend  !  my  intimate  I  my  brother  !  ('  Oh,'  said  I,  '  this 
is  from  an  equal  1')  You  know  the  affection  that  the  friend  who 
addresses  you  entertains  for  that  bright  star  of  the  age,  the 
the  shadow  of  our  blessed  Prophet,  and  his  only  wish  is,  that 
their  intimacy  should  daily  increase  and  strengthen.  He  sends 
him  six  choice  Ispahan  melons,  such  as  are  not  to  be  found  every 
day,  and  requests  him,  as  he  values  his  beard,  to  give  him  an 
unlimited  permission  to  drink  wine  ;  for  the  doctors  assure  him 
if  he  does  not  take  it  in  abundance,  he  will  not  have  long  to 
be  the  scourge  and  extirpator  of  the  enemies  of  the  true  faith." 

"This  can  only  be  from  the  chief  executioner,"  said  I  im- 
mediately. "Who  else  in  Persia  could  express  in  such  a  few 
■words  his  OAvn  character,  namely,  flattery,  drunkard,  and  brag- 
gart ?  I  will  make  something  of  this  ;  but  let  me  look  at  the 
other  note."  I  opened  it,  and  read  as  follows: 
"  0  my  lord  and  master, 

"The  humble  inferior  who  presumes  to  address  the  prop  of 
the  true  faith,  the  terror  of  infidels,  and  the  refuge  of  the  sinner, 
begs  leave  to  lay  before  him,  that  after  having  encountered  a 
thousand  difficulties,  he  has  at  length  succeeded  in  getting  from 
the  peasantry  of  his  villages  one  hundred  tomauns  in  ready 
money,  besides  the  fifty  kherivars,  or  ass  loads  of  grain.  That 
the  man,  Hossein  Ali,  could  or  would  not  pay  anything, 
although  he  had  bastinadoed  him  twice,  and  he  had  in  conse- 
quence taken  possession  of  his  two  cows  :  that  he  would  go  on 
beating  and  exerting  himself  to  the  best  of  his  abilities  ;  and 
if  some  one  was  sent  for  the  money  which  he  had  now  in  hand, 
he  would  deliver  it  over  upon  receiving  a  proper  order." 

The  note  then  finished  with  the  usual  form  of  words  from  an 
inferior  to  his  master,  and  was  sealed  with  a  small  seal,  upon 
which  was  impressed,  Abdul  Kerim,  the  name  of  the  writer. 

"Ah,"  said  I,  "may  my  lucky  stars  still  protect  me,  and  I 
will  discover  who  this  Abdul  Kerim  is,  and  where  the  village 
from  whence  he  writes,  and  then  the  hundred  tomauns  become 
mine."  However,  I  let  that  matter  rest  for  the  moment,  to  think 
of  the  good  account  to  which  I  might  turn  the  note  from  the 
chief  executioner.     After  due  reflection,  I  wrote  as  follows : 


OF    THE    CONSEQUENCES    OF    THE    ADVENTURE.  315 

"  0  ray  friend  !  my  soul  I 

"  The  note  of  that  friend  without  compare  has  been  received, 
and  its  contents  understood.  When  the  sacred  standard  of 
Islam  runs  the  risk  of  losing  that  lion  of  lions,  that  double- 
bladed  sword,  that  tower  of  strength,  when  he  may  be  saved 
and  preserved,  who  can  doubt  what  is  to  be  done  ?  Drink,  0 
friend,  drink  wine,  and  copiously  too  ;  and  let  the  enemies  of 
all  true  believers  tremble.  May  thy  house  prosper,  for  the 
melons  ;  but  add  one  more  favor  to  the  many  already  con- 
ferred ;  lend  thy  friend  a  horse,  duly  caparisoned,  for  he  has 
pressing  business  on  hand,  and  he  will  return  it  safe  and  sound, 
as  soon  as  the  star  of  his  destiny  shall  direct  him  home  again." 

This  I  impressed  with  the  seal  of  the  deceased,  and  deter- 
mined to  present  it  myself  very  early  in  the  morning. 

To  the  other  note  I  wrote  the  following  answer : 
"To  the  well  beloved  Abdul  Kerim. 

"We  have  received  your  note,  and  have  understood  its  con- 
tents. This  will  be  delivered  to  you  by  our  confidential  Hajji 
Baba  Beg,  to  whom  you  will  deliver  whatever  money  you  have 
in  hand  for  us.  On  other  subjects,  you  will  hear  from  us  soon  ; 
but  in  the  meanwhile  go  on  with  the  bastinado,  and  we  pray 
Allah  to  take  you  into  his  holy  keeping." 

Having  duly  accomplished  this,  I  waited  for  a  proper  hour  to 
make  my  escape  from  a  place  where  I  was  in  momentary  danger 
of  a  discovery,  which  perhaps  might  bring  me  to  an  ignominious 
end.  It  was  past  midnight,  and  I  was  preparing  to  issue  in 
great  secrecy  from  my  room,  when  the  door  was  gently  pressed 
as  if  some  one  wanted  admittance.  My  fright  may  better  be 
imagined  than  described.  I  expected  to  see,  at  least,  the 
daroga  (police  magistrate)  and  all  his  ofi&cevs  rush  in  and  seize 
me  ;  and  I  waited  in  agony  for  the  result  of  the  intrusion,  when 
I  heard  the  sound  of  a  female  voice  whispering  words  which 
my  agitation  prevented  my  understanding.  Whatever  might 
have  been  the  object  of  the  visit,  I  had  but  one  answer  to  give, 
and  that  was  a  loud  and  heavy  snore,  which  sufficiently  pro- 
claimed that  the  occupant  of  the  apartment  was  in  no  humor 
to  be  disturbed. 

I  waited  for  some  time  until  I  thought  that  everything  was 
hushed  throughout  the  mansion,  then  made  my  way  quietly  to 
the  principal  entrance,  wliich  having  easily  opened,  I  fled  as  if 
pursued.  I  watched  the  best  opportunities  to  steal  along  the 
streets  without  meeting  the  police,  and  without  being  dis- 
covered by  the  sentinels  on  duty.  The  day  at  length  dawned, 
and  the  bazaiirs,  little  l)y  little,  began  to  oj)en.  Dressed  as  I 
was  in  the  Mollah  Bashi's  clothes,  my  first  care  was  to  make 


316  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

such  alterations  in  them  that  they  sliould  not  hold  me  up  to 
suspicion,  and  this  I  did  for  a  trifling  expense  at  an  old 
clothes'  shop,  although,  at  the  same  time,  I  took  care  not  to 
part  with  any  of  the  valuable  articles  which  had  fallen  into  my 
possession. 

I  then  proceeded  to  the  house  of  the  chief  executioner, 
where  I  presented  my  note  to  a  servant,  an  utter  stranger  to 
me,  saying,  that  the  Mollah  Baslii  requested  an  immediate 
answer,  as  he  was  about  going  from  the  city  on  important 
business. 

To  my  delight,  I  was  informed  that  the  great  personage  was 
in  his  anderun,  and  that  he  must  for  the  present  delay  sending 
a  written  answer ;  but  that  in  the  meanwhile  he  had  ordered 
one  of  his  horses  to  be  delivered  to  me. 

Oh  how  I  eyed  the  beast  as  I  saw  him  led  out  of  the  stable, 
with  the  gold-pommeled  and  velvet-seated  saddle,  with  the 
gold  cliain  dangling  over  his  head,  and  the  bridle  inlaid  with 
enameled  knobs.  I  almost  dreaded  to  think  that  all  this  was 
about  to  become  my  property,  and  that  such  luck  could  not 
last  long.  So  strong  was  this  apprehension,  that  I  was  about 
asking  for  trappings  less  gaudy  and  more  serviceable ;  but 
again,  I  thought  that  any  delay  might  be  ray  ruin,  so  without 
mincing  the  matter,  I  mounted  him,  and  in  a  very  short  time 
had  passed  the  gates  of  the  city,  and  was  far  advanced  into 
the  country. 

I  rode  on,  without  stopping  or  once  looking  behind,  until  I 
had  got  among  some  of  the  broken  ground  produced  by  the 
large  and  undefined  bed  of  the  river  Caraj,  and  there  I  made  a 
halt.  _  I  recollected  to  have  heard  that  the  village  of  the  Mollah 
Bashi  lay  somewhere  in  the  direction  of  Hamadan,  and  conse- 
quently directed  my  course  thither.  But,  to  say  the  truth, 
when  pausing  to  breathe,  I  was  so  alarmed  at  the  extraordinary 
turn  which  my  fortunes  had  taken,  that,  like  one  dizzy  on  the 
brink  of  a  precipice,  invaded  by  a  sort  of  impulse  to  precipi- 
tate himself,  it  was  with  some  difficulty  that  I  could  persuade 
myself  not  to  return,  and  deliver  up  my  person  to  justice.  "I 
am,"  said  I,  "nothing  more  nor  less  than  a  thief,  and,  if 
caught,  should  duly  be  blown  from  the  mouth  of  a  mortar. 
But  then,  on  the  other  hand,  who  made  me  so  ?  Surely  if 
tahdeer  (destiny)  will  work  such  wonderful  effects,  it  can  be  no 
fault  of  mine.  I  sought  not  the  death  of  the  Mollah  Bashi ; 
but  if  he  chooses  to  come  and  breathe  his  last  in  my  lap,  and 
if,  whether  I  will  or  no,  I  am  to  be  taken  for  him,  then  it  is 
plain  that  fate  has  made  me  his  vakeel,  his  representative ;  and 
whatever  I  do  so  long  as  I  remain  in  that  character  is  lawful — 


COLLECTING    MOyEY.  31*7 

then  his  clothes  are  my  clothes,  his  hundred  tomauns  are  ray 
hundred  tomauns,  and  whatever  I  have  written  in  his  name  is 
lawfully  written." 

Revived  by  these  conclusions,  I  again  mounted,  and  pro- 
ceeded to  the  nearest  village,  to  inquire  where  the  property  of 
the  chief  priest  was  situated,  and  if  a  person  of  the  name  of 
Abdul  Kerim  was  known  in  the  neighborhood.  As  if  the  dice 
were  determined  to  keep  turning  up  in  my  favor,  I  found  that 
the  very  next  village,  about  one  parasang  distant,  was  the  one 
in  question,  and  Abdul  Kerim  a  priest  of  that  name  who  super- 
intended the  interests  and  collected  the  revenues  of  his  de- 
ceased master.  "  Ho,"  said  I,  "  a  priest  I  I  must  change  the 
tone  of  the  letter,  and  insert  his  proper  titles."  I  immediately 
sat  down  on  the  ground,  taking  the  ink-stand  from  my  pocket, 
and  cutting  off  a  slip  of  paper  from  the  roll  in  my  girdle,  I 
framed  my  note  anew,  and  then  proceeded  on  my  errand,  de- 
termined, if  I  obtained  possession  of  the  hundred  tomauns,  to 
take  the  shortest  road  to  the  nearest  Persian  frontier. 


CHAPTER  LIX. 

COLLECTING    MONEY. 

I  PUT  on  an  air  of  consequence  suited  to  the  fine  horse  which 
I  bestrode  as  soon  as  I  reached  Seidabad,  (for  that  was  'the 
name  of  the  village,)  and  rode  through  its  gates  with  such  a 
look  of  authority,  that  the  peasants  who  saw  me,  did  not  fail  to 
make  very  low  inclinations  of  the  head. 

"Where  is  Abdul  Kerim  ?"  said  I,  as  I  dismounted,  and  gave 
my. horse  to  one  of  the  bystanders. 

In  a  moment  every  one  was  in  motion  to  find  him,  and  he 
very  soon  appeared. 

"I  am  come,"  said  I,  (after  the  usual  salutations,)  "on  the 
part  of  the  chief  priest,  upon  certain  business  well  known  to 
you  ;  and  straight  I  delivered  him  my  note. 

Abdul  Kerim  had  a  piercing  eye,  which  did  not  at  all  suit 
me,  particularly  as  he  kept  conning  me  over  through  a  corner 
of  it;  but  I  was  relieved  as  soon  as  he  had  read  the  note  to 
hear  him  say  he  chesm.  "By  my  eyes  I  the  money  is  ready. 
But  you  must  refresh  yourself.     In  the  name  of  God  come  in." 

I  pretended  great  hurry,  not  at  all  liking  to  remain  under  tlio 
*27* 


318  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

fire  of  his  sharp  eyes ;  but  by  the  way  of  not  exciting  suspicion, 
I  consented  to  eat  some  fruit  and  sour  milk. 

"  I  do  not  remember  to  have  seen  you  at  the  chief  priest's," 
said  he  to  me,  as  I  was  opening  wide  my  mouth  to  swallow  a 
piece  of  melon  ;  "  and  yet  I  am  acquainted  with  every  one  of  his 
servants  perfectly." 

"No,"  said  I,  half  choked  at  the  question,  "no;  I  do  not 
belong  to  him,  I  am  an  attendant  upon  the  chief  executioner, 
with  whom  the  MoUah  Bashi,  I  believe,  has  some  money  trans- 
actions." 

This  seemed  to  settle  every  difficulty  which  I  saw  had  been 
rising  in  the  mind  of  my  entertainer ;  and  thus  the  fine  horse, 
the  gold-pommeled  saddle,  and  the  brilliant  bridle,  were  at 
once  accounted  for. 

Having  received  the  one  hundred  tomauns,  I  safely  deposited 
them  in  my  breast ;  and  then,  apparently  taking  the  road  back 
to  the  city,  I  left  the  village  with  a  heart  much  lighter  than  I 
had  brought.  But  as  soon  as  I  was  fairly  out  of  sight,  I  turned 
my  horse's  bridle  in  the  contrary  direction,  and  clapping  the 
stirrups  into  his  flanks,  galloped  on  without  stopping,  until  the 
foam  fairly  ran  down  his  sides. 

I  determined  to  proceed  direct  to  Kermanshah,  there  sell 
horse,  saddle,  and  bridle,  and  then  make  my  way  to  Bagdad, 
where  I  should  be  safe  from  all  danger  of  molestation. 

Having  proceeded  some  five  parasangs  on  my  road,  I  saw  a 
strange  figure  walking  before  me  at  a  good  pace,  singing  with  all 
his  throat.  He  was  lightly  dressed,  having  only  a  skull-cap  on 
his  head,  his  face  bound  round  with  a  piece  of  linen,  a  pair  of 
slippers  on  his  feet,  and  nothing  to  indicate  that  he  was  a  way- 
faring man.  As  I  drew  near  I  thought  that  I  had  seen  his  form 
before ;  he  was  tall  and  well  shaped,  with  broad  shoulders,  and 
a  narrow  waist.  I  should  immediately  have  taken  him  for  the 
Mollah  Nadan  but  for  his  singing ;  for  it  never  struck  me  as 
possible  that  one  of  his  grave  character  and  manners  could  ever 
lower  himself  by  so  ignoble  an  act.  But  little  by  little  I  saw  so 
much  of  him,  although  he  had  not  yet  discovered  me,  that  I 
could  not  be  mistaken  ;  it  was  the  mollah  himself. 

I  stopped  my  horse  to  deliberate  whether  I  should  notice,  or 
make  myself  known  to  him.  To  pass  hira  would  be  the  height 
of  cruelty ;  but  to  recognize  him  would  of  necessity  burthen  me 
with  an  inconvenient  companion.  But  then,  should  he  discern 
who  I  was,  and  find  that  I  had  shunned  him,  he  would  very 
probably  denounce  me  as  a  thief  on  the  very  first  occasion  ; 
and  if  I  escaped  him  now,  I  should  have  the  fear  ever  after  of 
knowing  him  to  be  my  enemy. 


COLLECTING    MONEY.  319 

We  were  both  approaching  a  village  where  we  must  pass  the 
night,  therefore  there  was  no  retreating  on  my  part ;  for  it  was 
necessary  to  see  that  proper  care  was  taken  of  ray  horse,  con- 
sidering the  long  journey  it  had  to  travel,  and  to  push  him  on 
further  was  impossible. 

I  took  a  middle  line.  Should  he  recognize  me,  I  would  speak 
to  him ;  if  not,  I  would  pass  him  unheeded.  I  urged  my  horse 
on,  and  as  I  approached  he  turned  round  and  surveyed  me  from 
head  to  foot,  but  apparently  without  making  me  out. 

"  Oh  Aga,  for  pity's  sake,"  exclaimed  he,  "have  compassion 
on  an  unfortunate  man,  who  has  no  other  refuge  iu  this  world 
than  God  and  you  !" 

I  could  not  resist  such  an  appeal  to  my  feelings,  and,  keeping 
silence  for  some  little  while  by  way  of  hearing  what  more  he 
would  say,  I  at  length  burst  into  an  immoderate  fit  of  laughter. 
My  laughter  seemed  to  be  as  much  out  of  season  as  his  singing ; 
for  he  was  extremely  puzzled  what  to  make  of  me ;  but  when  I 
began  to  speak,  all  doubts  were  removed,  and  he  ran  up  to  me 
with  a  sort  of  joy  and  ecstasy  that  bordered  upon  madness. 

"  Ay,  Hajji,  my  soul,  my  uncle,  light  of  my  eyes  !"  said  he, 
as  he  kissed  my  knee.  "  From  what  heaven  have  you  dropped  ? 
What  means  this  finery,  this  horse,  this  gold,  these  trappings  ? 
Do  you  deal  with  the  Gins  and  the  Dives,  or  has  fortune  fallen 
in  love,  and  adopted  you  its  heir  ?" 

I  continued  laughing,  so  amused  was  I  at  these  sallies,  and 
he  went  on,  saying  :  "  How  comes  it  that  you  have  so  soon 
turned  your  mule  into  this  fine  horse  ?  And  my  property, 
what  is  become  of  it  ?'  Have  you  not  even  saved  my  ass,  for 
I  am  sorely  tired  of  going  on  foot  ?  Tell  me,  tell  me  all  :  by 
the  beard  of  the  Prophet,  tell  me  all." 

I  soon  found  that  had  I  refused  to  give  him  a  full  account 
of  my  adventures,  he  would  suspect  me  of  having  got  possession 
of  his  property,  and  turned  it  into  the  finery  which  had  just 
drawn  forth  his  admiration  ;  so  I  promised  ftiithfully  to  relate 
everything,  but  I  entreated  him  at  the  same  time  to  prepare  a 
large  quantity  of  credulity,  for  what  I  had  to  say  was  so  mar- 
velous, that  he  would  very  probably  conceive  it  was  my  inten- 
tion to  impose  upon  him. 

We  then  proceeded  to  the  village,  where  we  took  up  our  quar- 
ters at  the  mehman  klianeh,  or  strangers'  house,  a  convenience 
generally  to  be  found  in  every  hamlet  throughout  Persia,  and 
there  established  ourselves  for  the  night. 

A  person  of  my  appearance  could  not  long  remain  unnoticed, 
and  I  was  dully  waited  upon  by  the  ked  khoda,  who  supplied  us 


320  THE    ADVEXTURKS    OF    HAJJI    BABA. 

with  a  good  supper ;  and  during  the  time  required  for  its  pre- 
paration, I  related  my  adventures  to  ray  companion. 

Their  singularity  was  in  no  manner  thrown  away  upon  him  ; 
and  he  seemed  to  die  away  with  delight,  when  he  found  tliat  all 
my  present  prosperity  was  at  the  cost  of  his  old  enemy  the 
Mollah  Bashi.  As  we  sat  communicating  to  each  other  in  the 
full  confidence  of  our  hearts,  (for  the  miserable  are  ever  greatly 
relieved  by  talking  of  themselves,)  I  discovered  that  never  before 
had  I  acquired  an  insight  into  the  real  character  of  my  asso- 
ciate. 

"  There  mnst  have  been  an  assumed  importance  in  you,"  said 
I  to  him,  "  as  long  as  I  was  in  your  service;  for  how  could  one 
really  proud  be  so  amiable  as  you  appear  now  ?" 

"  Ah,  Hajji !"  said  he,  "adversity  is  a  great  alterative.  My 
life  has  been  one  eternal  up  and  down.  1  have  often  compared 
it  to  those  whirligigs  set  up  by  louts  in  our  market-places  on 
the  No  Rouz,  which  keep  one  dangling  between  heaven  and 
earth.  Unfortunately,  I  am  one  of  those  who  has  never  adopted 
the  maxim  of,  'spread  not  your  carpet  in  a  wet  place.' " 

"Tell  me,"  said  I,  "the  history  of  your  adventures.  We 
cannot  better  pass  our  time,  and  I  hope  that  you  know  me  well 
enough  not  to  refuse  me  your  confidence." 

"  You  will  hear  nothing  in  my  history  but  what  is  common 
to  many  Persians,  who  one  day  are  princes  and  the  next  beg- 
gars ;  but  since  you  are  curious  to  know,  I  will  relate  it  with 
pleasure ;"  and  he  began  in  the  following  words  : 

"I  am  a  native  of  Hamadan.  My  father  was  a  mollah  of 
such  eminence,  that  he  was  ambitious  of  becoming  the  mushtehed 
of  Persia;  but  his  controversies  upon  particular  points  of  faith 
unfortunately  carried  him  so  far,  that  a  party  was  created 
against  him,  which  deprived  him  of  the  elevation  he  sought.  His 
most  prominent  quality  was  the  hatred  he  bore  to  the  Osmanlies, 
and  to  Sunis  in  general.  One  of  our  ancestors  is  said  to  have 
first  introduced  into  Persia  a  more  universal  hatred  against  them 
than  ever  before  existed,  by  a  simple  innovation  in  the  educa- 
tion of  the  Shiah  children,  by  which  means  their  very  first  ideas 
were  trained  to  be  inimical  to  the  race  of  Omar.  I  mean,"  said 
the  mollah,  "that  which  you  no  doubt  very  well  remember :  when 
a  little  boy  in  school-time  is  pressed  upon  certain  occasions  to 
ask  his  master's  leave  to  retire,  the  form  of  words  in  which  he 
is  enjoined  to  make  his  request  is,  'Lalinet  beh  Omar,''  curse  be 
upon  Omar.  I  dare  say  you  have  through  life,  as  I  have,  never 
omitted  to  unite  the  name  of  Omar  with  everything  that  is  un- 
clean, and  at  least  once  a  day  to  repeat  the  curse  which  you 
were  taught  at  school." 


COLLECTING    MONEY.  321 

I  fully  assented  to  this,  and  then  he  proceeded  with  his 
story. 

"  My  father's  hatred  for  the  sectaries  of  Omar  extended  itself 
to  all  sorts  of  infidels.  Jews,  Christians,  Fire-worshippers,  and 
worshippers  of  images,  all  came  within  the  scope  of  his  execra- 
tion ;  and  what  at  first  he  had  practised  from  motives  of  ambi- 
tion, at  length  became  the  ruling  principle  of  his  natm'e.  His 
family,  and  I  among  the  number,  were  brought  up  in  his  tenets, 
and  imbibed  all  his  violent  prejudices;  and  so  much  did  we  hang 
together  by  them,  that  we  formed  as  it  were  a  distinct  sect, — 
the  terror  of  infidels,  and  the  most  zealous  upholders  of  the 
Shiah  faith. 

"After  this  you  will  not  be  surprised  at  the  part  I  lately  took 
in  the  destruction  of  the  Armenian  wine-jars  at  Tehran.  But 
that  is  not  the  only  scrape  my  zeal  has  led  me  into.  Yery  early  in 
life,  when  still  a  student  at  Hamadan,  I  was  involved  in  a 
terrible  disturbance,  of  which  I  was  the  principal  promoter. 

"  An  ambassador  from  the  Pasha  of  Bagdad,  with  his  suite, 
was  quietly  taking  his  road  through  our  city,  having  sojourned 
there  two^or  three  days  on  his  way  to  the  court  of  the  Shah, 
when  burning  to  put  into  practice  my  father's  lessons,  I  col- 
lected a  band  of  young  fanatics  like  myself,  and,  making  them  an 
appropriate  address,  I  so  excited  their  passions,  that  we  resolved 
to  perform  some  feat  worthy  of  our  principles.  We  determined 
to  attack  our  Turkish  guests,  inform  them  of  the  curses  wo 
denounced  against  Omar,  and  invite  them  to  become  adherents 
to  the  doctrine  of  Ali.  Heedless,  and,  perhaps,  ignorant  of 
what  is  due  to  the  character  of  Eldn,  or  ambassador,  we  only 
saw  in  Suleiman  EfiFendi  an  enemy  to  the  Shiahs,  and  one  calling 
himself  a  Suni.  One  day,  as  he  was  setting  forth  from  his 
house  to  visit  the  governor  of  Hamadan,  we  gathered  ourselves 
into  a  body,  and  greeted  him  by  loud  cries  of  '  Curses  be  upon 
Omar!'  This  enraged  his  domestics,  who  retorted  the  insult 
by  blows.  Showers  of  stones  ensued  from  our  party,  and  this 
led  to  a  general  fray,  in  which  the  Pasha's  representative  had 
his  turban  knocked  from  his  head,  his  beard  spit  upon,  and  his 
clothes  nearly  torn  from  his  back. 

"  Such  an  outrage  of  course  could  not  be  overlooked.  The 
ambassador  was  outrageous,  he  threatened  to  send  ofiT  couriers 
to  the  Shah,  and  was  even  on  the  point  of  returning  to  his  own 
master,  when  the  governor,  frightened  at  the  consequences  if  his 
wrath  was  not  appeased,  promised  that  he  should  have  all 
satisfaction,  and  that  the  ringleaders  of  the  disturbance  should 
immediately  be  delivered  up  to  him. 

"Trusting  to  my  father's  consequence  in  the  city,  and  full  of 


322  THE    ADVENTURES    OF    IIA.TJI    BABA. 

vapouring  pride  at  what  we  had  achieved,  I  at  first  made  light 
of  the  vows  of  vengeance  which  the  Turks  breathed  against  us ; 
but  the  governor,  who  only  contemplated  the  loss  of  his  place 
if  the  news  of  this  event  reached  Tehran  ;  and  caring  little 
whether  Ali  was  the  true  successor  to  the  Prophet,  or  whether 
Osman,  Omar,  and  Abubekr  were  usurpers  or  not,  he  at  once 
ordered  me  to  be  seized,  as  well  as  two  others  of  my  compan- 
ions, and  forthwith  we  were  placed  at  the  disposal  of  the  en- 
raged Osnlanlies. 

"I  shall  never  forget  the  contending  emotions  of  my  miud, 
when  brought  face  to  face  before  these  objects  of  my  hatred.  I 
did  not  at  all  relish  the  sound  beating  which  they  had  it  in  con- 
templation to  inflict  upon  me ;  and,  at  the  same  time,  I  groaned 
under  the  necessity  of  keeping  to  myself  that  stream  of  abuse 
which  was  ready  to  flow  against  them  upon  the  smallest  provo- 
cation. 

"  They  seemed,  however,  quite  ready  to  return  all  our  hatred 
with  interest,  and  did  not  lose  this  opportunity  of  letting  us 
know  its  full  extent.  They  were  not  generous  enough  to  let  us 
off,  but  ordered  the  administration  of  the  bastinaflo  with  a 
degree  of  religious  zest  that  I  thought  could  never  have  existed 
in  any  breast  except  my  own.  To  be  short,  our  feet  were  beat 
into  a  jelly,  and  our  only  consolation  during  the  operation  was 
the  opportunity  afforded  us  of  giving  vent  to  our  pent  up  rage. 
The  Turk,  however,  was  revenged,  and  we  were  set  free. 

"  This  adventure  cooled  my  zeal  for  many  years  ;  although, 
in  the  pursuit  of  the  distinctions  which  my  father  sought,  I  con- 
tinued to  addict  myself  to  controversy.  When  about  twenty- 
five  years  old,  and  my  beard  had  ax;quired  a  respectable  con- 
sistency, I  went  to  Ispahan,  in  order  to  improve  myself  by 
associating  with  our  celebrated  doctors,  and  to  make  my  own 
abilities  known  by  the  part  which  I  might  take  in  their  disputa- 
tions. I  succeeded  to  the  utmost  of  my  wishes,  and  acquired 
considerable  reputation.  I  only  wanted  an  opportunity  of  dis- 
tinguishing myself,  and  that  was  soon  afforded  me  by  the  fol- 
lowing circumstance. 

"In  the  time  of  our  famous  Shah  SefS,  who  was  himself  half 
a  heretic,  the  Franks  (a  sect  of  the  Christians)  had  considerable 
establishments  at  Ispahan  for  the  purposes  of  commerce,  and 
were  much  patronised  and  encouraged  by  him.  He  allowed 
them  free  exercise  of  their  religion, — permitted  them  to  build 
churches, — to  import  priests, — and,  to  the  scandal  of  the  true 
faith,  even  allowed  them  the  use  of  bells  to  call  them  to  prayer. 
These  Franks  have  a  supreme  head  of  their  church, — a  sort  of 
caliph,  whom  they  call  Papa, — part  of  whose  duty,  like  that  of 


COLLECTING    MONET.  323 

our  own  blessed  Prophet,  is  to  propagate  his  religion  through- 
out the  world.  Under  diflFerent  pretexts,  convents  of  his 
dervishes  were  established,  some  in  Ispahan  itself,  and  some  in 
Julfa  among  the  Armenians.  Most  of  these  have  been  aban- 
doned, and  the  buildings  fallen  into  decay  ;  but  one  whose  object 
more  particularly  was  the  propagation  of  the  Christian  faith  still 
existed,  and  to  its  destruction  my  endeavors  and  those  of  our 
most  zealous  mollahs  were  directed,  notwithstanding  the  opposite 
views  of  the  government,  who  are  anxious  to  encourage  the 
Christians  to  settle  in  Persia,  owing  to  the  riches  which  they 
introduce  by  their  trade. 

"  This  convent  was  served  by  two  dervishes,  one  of  whom 
was  in  himself  a  calamity  ! — one  who  understood  the  world, — a 
man  of  deep  design, — and  of  a  wit  so  sharp,  that  the  shaitan  in 
person  was  not  fit  to  be  his  father.  He  was  tall,  thin,  and 
strong.  His  eyes  were  like  live  charcoal,  and  his  voice  like  a 
high  wind.  He  never  lost  an  opportunity  of  entering  into 
argument  with  our  most  learned  men  upon  points  of  religion, 
and  would  boldly  assert,  with  the  heart  of  a  lion,  that'  our  holy 
Prophet,  '  the  chief  of  created  beings,  the  sealed  intercessor, 
Mohammed  Mustapha,'  (upon  whom  be  eternal  blessings  !)  was 
a  cheat  and  an  impostor.  In  short,  he  embarked  in  the  sea  of 
controversy,  as  if  he  had  Noah  for  a  pilot ;  and,  not  content 
with  words,  he  even  wrote  a  book,  in  which  he  pretended  to 
prove  the  truth  of  his  mad  assertions.  This  book  was  unfor- 
tunately attempted  to  be  answered  by  one  of  our  divines,  who 
did  not  recollect  that  it  is  folly  to  play  with  fire,  unless  there 
be  plenty  of  water  at  hand  to  extinguish  it.  His  book  said 
anything  but  what  it  ought,  and  tended  more  to  throw  ridicule 
upon  Islamism  than  to  uphold  its  glory  and  perfection.  Ispahan 
was  full  of  this  subject  when  I  arrived  there  ;  and,  being  anxious 
to  bring  myself  forward,  I  proposed  that  an  invitation  should 
be  made  to  the  Frank  dervish  to  meet  the  mollahs  of  the  city 
in  person,  on  an  appointed  day,  in  the  Medresseh  Jedeed,  when 
they  would  argue  every  point  of  their  respective  faiths,  and 
when  they  would  either  make  the  dervish  turn  Mohamedan,  by 
producing  conviction  in  his  mind,  or  they  would  become 
Christians,  if  his  arguments  prevailed.  To  this  he  immediately 
assented;  but  we  determined  beforehand,  amongst  ourselves, 
that  such  a  thorn  in  the  side  of  our  VUemah  should  no  longer 
exist  in  Persia,  and  that  the  overwhelming  truth  of  our  belief 
should  not  be  left  to  the  chances  of  vain  words  and  uplifted 
voices,  but  show  itself  in  the  zeal  and  numbers  of  its  adherents. 
Accordingly  every  turbaned  head,  and  every  beard  that  wagged, 
were  secretly  invited  to  appear  on  the  appointed  day ;  and  never 


324  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

was  attendance  more  complete, — never  did  the  children  of  Islam 
make  such  a  show  of  their  unresisting  force,  as  they  did  on  that 
memorable  occasion. 

"The  Medresseh  was  already  filled;  for,  besides  the  mol- 
lahs,  a  great  crowd,  all  anxious  to  witness  the  triumph  of  the 
true  faith,  had  taken  possession  of  the  courts.  Head  over 
head  and  turban  over  turban  were  piled  upon  each  other,  in 
thick  array,  along  the  walls  and  in  the  utmost  corners  of  the 
hall,  when  the  Frank  dervish,  alone,  unsupported,  and  un- 
friended, appeared  before  us.  He  looked  around  in  dismay, 
and  appeared  appalled  by  our  numbers.  Two  or  three  of  the 
principal  mollahs,  who  were  to  carry  on  the  controversy,  were 
seated  in  front  of  their  body,  and  I  was  close  at  hand.  We  had 
prepared  questions,  which  were  to  be  proposed  to  him,  and  ac- 
cording to  the  answers  he  gave,  so  were  we  to  act.  He  ap- 
peared to  be  provided  with  no  other  weapon  of  defence  save  his 
tongue ;  and  he  sat  down  opposite  to  us,  evidently  much 
alarmed  at  the  hostility  which  he  remarked  on  the  countenances 
of  all  present. 

"Without  giving  him  any  time  for  reflection,  we  immedi- 
ately began  : 

"  'Do  you  believe,'  said  one,  'that  the  God  in  Heaven  put 
himself  into  a  human  form  ?'  '  Do  you,'  said  another,  '  acknow- 
ledge that  God  is  composed  of  three  persons,  and  still  is  only 
one  ?'  'Are  you  convinced,'  said  a  third  '  that  what  you  call 
the  Holy  Ghost,  came  down  from  heaven  in  the  body  of  a 
dove  V 

"  These  questions  were  put  so  quickly,  that  he  knew  not 
which  way  to  turn,  until  collecting  within  himself  all  the  powers 
of  his  voice,  he  exclaimed,  '  If  your  intention  is  to  kill  me,  be 
it  so  ;  but  what  good  will  that  do  your  argument  ?  If  your  in- 
tention be  to  argue,  attacking  me  in  this  manner  by  numbers 
and  personal  violence,  will  prove  that  you  can  only  oppose 
passion  to  argument ;  and  show  the  world,  that  by  me  you  have 
been  overcome.' 

"  Seeing  that  we  were  likely  to  fare  ill,  and  observing  that 
his  words  were  producing  an  effect  in  his  favor,  I  was  the  first 
to  exclaim  to  the  surrounding  mob,  and  to  the  assembly  pre- 
sent :  '  O  Mussulmen !  Mussulmen  1  come  to  our  help — our 
religion  is  attacked — the  infidel  is  trying  to  subvert  our  faith — 
vengeance  !  help  !' 

"  These  words  produced  an  immediate  effect,  and  a  thousand 
voices  were  lifted  up  against  him.  'Seize  him!'  said  some; 
'  kill  him  !'  said  others.  The  mob  was  agitated  to  and  fro,  like 
the  waves  of  the  sea ;  when  the  dervish,  seeing  himself  in  dan- 


COLLECTING    MONEY.  325 

ger,  made  an  attempt  to  escape,  which  was  seconded  by  one  of 
the  mollahs,  whose  compassion  was  moved  towards  him.  He 
thi'ew  his  own  cloak  over  the  infidel's  shoulders,  and  just  as  vio- 
lent hands  were  about  to  be  lain  upon  him,  he  pushed  vigor- 
ously through  the  crowd,  and  succeeded  in  reaching  the  house 
of  an  Armenian  in  safety. 

"  We,  the  mollahs,  being  disappointed  of  onrprey,  proceeded 
in  a  body  to  the  house  of  the  governor  of  the  city,  followed  by 
an  immense  crowd  of  the  people.  A  great  fermentation  had 
been  excited,  and  we  promoted  it  all  in  our  power. 

."The  governor  himself  was  a  strict  and  pious  Mussulman, 
and  we  expected  that  he  would  without  hesitation  join  in  the  cry 
we  had  raised.  We  accused  the  Frank  dervish  of  preaching 
false  doctrine,  with  a  view  to  subvert  our  religion. 

"  '  This  fellow,'  said  we,  '  calls  our  Prophet  cheat,  and  talks 
abomination.     We  demand  that  he  be  delivered  over  to  us.' 

"  The  governor  was  perplexed  how  to  act ;  for  he  knew  how 
dangerous  it  was  to  interfere  in  matters  in  which  the  subjects 
of  Europe  were  concerned  ;  and  he  was  far  from  seconding  our 
disposition  to  violence. 

"  'Why  invite  the  dervish  to  an  argument,'  said  he,  'if  you 
will  not  hear  what  he  has  to  say  ?  If  you  have  no  arguments 
to  oppose  to  his,  violence  only  makes  your  cause  worse,  and 
you  do  more  harm  than  good  to  our  religion.  Bnt  if  on  the 
other  hand  your  arguments  are  better  than  his,  and  he  can 
bring  no  answer  to  them,  then  indeed  he  is  a  kafir,  an  infidel ; 
and  according  to  our  law  is  worthy  of  death.' 

"  Finding  ourselves  balked  again  we  departed  breathing 
vengeance  ;  and  I  verily  believe,  had  we  met  the  dervish  at  that 
moment,  he  would  have  been  torn  into  a  thousand  pieces.  He 
was  so  well  aware  of  this,  that  we  soon  after  heard  that  he  had 
left  the  city  in  secret ;  and  so  far  our  endeavors  were  success- 
ful, for  it  was  long  before  he  ventured  again  to  show  himself 

"  I  had  put  myself  so  much  forward  on  this  occasion,  and 
had  shown  my  zeal  in  so  many  different  ways,  that  I  had  be- 
come a  prominent  character.  But  hitherto,  I  had  got  nothing 
by  it.  The  capital  I  felt,  after  all,  was  the  place  where  I 
ought  to  endeavor  to  gain  some  permanent  and  lucrative  situa- 
tion :  and  to  that  I  turned  my  views.  To  gain  this  end,  I 
took  myself  to  Kom,  with  a  view  of  ingratiating  myself  with 
the  mushtehed,  whoso  recommendation  I  knew  would  do  me 
more  good  than  ten  years  of  prayer  and  fasting.  I  succeeded 
perfectly ;  for  with  the  character  I  had  acquired  of  being  the 
scourge  of  infidels,  I  was  received  by  him  with  great  favor,  and 
he  was  delighted  to  acknowledge  me  for  one  of  his  most  dili- 
28 


326  THK  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

gent  disciples.  I  soon  took  up  his  cause  against  the  Sufies 
with  all  the  ardor  that  he  could  wish  ;  and  it  was  not  long  be- 
fore I  ventured  to  solicit  his  recommendation  to  the  body  of 
the  Ullemah  at  Tehran,  and  to  the  principal  men  in  office  at 
court.  He  professed  to  be  sorry  to  part  with  me,  but  acceeded 
to  my  request ;  and  I  was  soon  after  counted  one  of  the  holy 
fraternity  at  the  seat  of  empire. 

"I  confess  to  you,  although  I  enjoy  as  good  an  opinion  of 
myself  as  most  men,  that  I  was  much  less  successful  in  making 
my  way  at  court  than  1  had  expected.  My  competitors  for  ad- 
vancement were  numerous,  and  more  versed  in  the  ways  of  the 
world  than  I.  Like  them,  I  was  obliged  to  begin  by  paying  a 
most  assiduous  attention  to  men  in  office.  Having  once  gained 
the  privilege  of  being  seated  in  the  mejHs  (assembly)  of  the 
head  of  the  law,  who  was  in  fact  my  chief,  I  little  by  little  be- 
came noticed  by  the  grand  vizier,  the  lord  high  treasurer,  the 
secretary  of  state,  the  chief  executioner,  and  others.  I  was 
constantly  to  be  seen  at  their  uprisings,  and  at  their  evening 
meetings  ;  but  after  all,  I  was  nothing  but  a  poor  mollah,  and  I 
longed  for  some  opportunity  of  distinguishing  myself  from  the 
common  herd.  The  prime  vizier  first  noticed  me,  owing  to 
my  once  having  succeeded  in  making  him  shed  tears,  at  the 
commemoration  of  the  death  of  the  blessed  Hosein,  which  he 
held  at  his  house,  and  where  I  preached  and  chaunted  the 
service  in  a  manner  that  drew  forth  his  approbation,  and  that 
of  all  the  assembly.  Since  then  I  have  made  great  progress, 
particularly  in  the  eyes  of  the  people,  whose  good  opinion  I 
look  upon  as  the  first  acquisition  to  an  ambitious  man. 

"  But  you  have  had  an  opportunity  of  judging  how  little 
their  assistance  is  to  be  depended  upon,  when  opposed  to  the 
will  of  an  absolute  king.  Trusting  too  much  to  my  influence 
over  them,  I  have  lost  myself;  and  I  am  now  what  you  see, 
a  miserable  wanderer,  returning  to  my  native  city,  as  penniless 
as  when  I  first  left  it." 


CHAPTER  LX. 


A    PAIR    OF    ROGUES. 


The  Mollali  Nadan  having  finished  his  narrative,  I  en- 
deavored to  persuade  him  that  the  same  destiny  which  had 
presided  over  his  success  in  life,  and  afterwards  over  his  mis- 
fortunes, would  no  doubt  serve  him  again,  and  restore  him  to 
his  lost  situation:  "for,"  said  I,  "we  both  of  us  have  seen 
enough  of  life  in  Persia  to  have  ascertained  its  extreme  in- 
stability. When  events  depend  upon  the  will  of  one  man,  he 
may,  with  as  much  consistency  order  you  back  from  exile,  as  he 
did  the  plucking  your  beard  and  the  thrusting  you  forth  from 
the  city.  There  is  a  reaction  in  misfortune  which  frequently 
produces  increased  prosperity.  Thus  when  the  smith  sprinkles 
water  upon  his  burning  charcoal,  it  is  extinguished  for  a, mo- 
ment, and  smoke  takes  the  place  of  flame;  but  again,  at  the 
slightest  blast  of  his  bellows,  the  fire  breaks  out  with  redoubled 
brilliancy." 

"  That  is  precisely  the  tliought  with  which  I  was  consoling 
myself,"  said  my  companion,  "  and  which  set  me  singing,  when 
you  overtook  me  on  the  road.  The  Shah  most  probably 
thought  it  necessary  to  make  an  exhibition  of  justice,  by  way 
of  ingratiating  himself  with  the  Christian  merchants  :  but  the 
day  will  come  when  he  will  feel  the  necessity  of  making  friends 
of  the  upholders  of  the  Mohamedan  religion,  and  then  the  good 
opinion  of  such  a  man  as  I,  who  am  beloved  by  the  people,  will 
be  of  consequence  to  him.  I  had  some  thoughts,  I  confess,  of 
relinquishing  priestcraft,  and  becoming  a  merchant ;  but,  all 
things  considered,  I  shall  continue  to  follow  my  original  destiny. 
I  have  now  an  opportunity  of  setting  up  for  a  martyr,  and  that, 
now  I  recollect  it,  is  worth  more  than  the  loss  of  my  worldly 
goods,  my  house,  my  furniture,  my  white  ass,  and  even  my 
muties." 

"Then  what  do  you  propose  doing?"  said  I.  "Will  you 
accompany  me  to  Bagdad,  or  will  you  wait  the  tide  of  events  in 
Persia  ?" 

"My  plan,"  said  he,  "is  to  proceed  to  my  native  place, 
Hamadan,  where  my  father,  who  is  still  alive,  enjoys  considera- 
ble I'eputation  :  through  his  means  I  will  set  negotiations  on 
foot  for  my  re-admission  to  the  capital,  and  ultimately  for  my 

(327) 


328  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

restoration  to  the  situations  of  which  I  have  been  deprived. 
But  you, — what  road  do  you  intend  to  pursue  ?  When,  In- 
shallah,  please  God,  I  am  restored,  I  shall  require  your  talents 
to  make  my  muti  establishment  prosper.  You  had  better  re- 
main at  Hamadan  with  me,  and  follow  my  fortunes." 

"Ah,  my  friend,"  said  I,  "with  all  my  present  apparent 
prosperity,  I  am  more  of  an  exile  than  you.  Events  have 
played  wickedly  into  my  lap,  and  here  am  I,  (God  knows  how 
unwillingly,)  an  avowed  thief.  I  could  not  do  otherwise  than 
follow  my  destiny,  which  has  clothed  me  with  the  garments  of 
the  chief  priest,  enriched  me  with  his  money,  and  mounted  me 
upon  the  finely  caparisoned  steed  of  the  executioner-in-chief. 
That  same  destiny  compels  me  to  fly  my  country  :  I  cannot  re- 
main in  it  to  run  the  chance  of  being  discovered  and  cut  into 
quarters,  to  grace  the  gates  of  the  city.  No,  before  many  days 
have  expired  I  hope  to  have  reached  the  Turkish  frontier,  and 
then  only  shall  I  call  myself  in  safety." 

Upon  this  I  made  him  an  offer  of  part  of  my  acquired  spoils, 
by  which  I  hoped  to  secure  his  secresy,  and  happy  was  I  to  find 
him  nothing  loth.  He  accepted  of  ten  tomauns  (leaving  me 
ninety-five  in  hand,)  which  he  said  would  be  enough  for  present 
purposes,  and  which  he  promised  to  repay  whenever  his  for- 
tunes should  be  re-established.  But  upon  taking  them  from  me 
he  again  urged  me  to  proceed  with  him  to  Hamadan.  He  re- 
presented in  the  strongest  colors  the  danger  I  ran  of  being 
seized  before  I  could  escape  from  the  Shah's  territories,  and 
even  when  I  should  have  quitted  them;  "  For,"  said  he,  "the 
moment  the  death  of  the  Mollah  Bashi  is  known,  and  as  soon 
as  the  chief  executioner  shall  have  discovered  the  loss  of  his 
horse,  he  will  not  fail  to  despatch  officers  throughout  the 
country  in  search  of  you,  and  you  are  too  conspicuous  a  cha- 
racter now  not  to  be  easily  traced.  It  will  be  much  better  for 
you  to  take  refuge  with  me,  who  will  not  fail  to  avert  any  in- 
quiries, until  the  event  has  blown  over,  when  you  will  be  at 
liberty  to  follow  your  plans  in  safety.  My  father  owns  a  village 
at  some  distance  from  Hamadan,  where  you  can  live  unsus- 
pected ;  and  as  for  your  horse  and  trappings,  we  may  dispose 
of  them  in  such  a  manner  that  they  cannot  lead  to  your  dis- 
covery. Hamadan  is  not  very  far  distant.  If  we  depart  hence 
at  midnight,  we  shall  reach  it  early  to-morrow  ;  and  this  we 
can  easily  do  by  making  your  horse  carry  us  both.  Consider 
that  the  journey  is  long  to  the  Turkish  frontier  ;  and  should  the 
beast  fail  you,  what  is  to  hinder  your  being  taken  ?" 

His  words  gave  a  new  turn  to  my  thoughts,  and  I  saw  that 
he  spoke  the  language  of  reason.     Totally  ignorant  of  this  part 


A    PAIR   OF    ROGUES,  329 

of  Persia,  and  feeling  bow  necessary  it  was  for  my  safety  not 
only  to  be  acquainted  with  the  high  roads,  but  also  with  the 
unfrequented  paths,  I  looked  upon  a  rapid  flight  to  the  frontier 
as  an  undertaking  not  so  easily  performed  as  imagined.  If  the 
mollah  was  inclined  to  betray  me,  he  would  as  easily  do  so 
whether  I  fled  or  whether  I  adopted  his  plan ;  and  of  the  two, 
it  appeared  to  me  a  safer  line  of  conduct  to  confide  in  than  to 
distrust  him  :  and  accordingly  I  agreed  to  accompany  him. 

Refreshed  both  by  food  and  rest,  we  departed  at  midnight, 
and  made  great  progress  on  the  road  to  Hamadan  ere  the  sun 
rose.  Having  reached  a  rising  ground  which  gave  us  a  view 
of  the  city,  we  made  a  halt,  in  order  to  decide  upon  our  present 
operations.  Kadan  pointed  with  his  hand  to  a  village  about  a 
parasang  distant,  and  said,  "  That  is  the  village  in  which  you 
must  take  up  your  quarters,  until  the  story  of  the  Mollah  Bashi's 
extraordinary  death  be  blown  over ;  but  you  cannot  present 
yourself  in  this  magnificent  garb,  and  mounted  on  this  fine 
horse,  without  creating  suspicion.  I  propose  that  we  exchange 
dresses,  and  that  you  surrender  the  horse  up  to  me.  By  this 
means  you  will  appear  in  the  character  of  a  dependent  of  my 
father  at  his  village,  and  I  shall  keep  up  the  respectability  of 
mine,  by  returning  to  the  paternal  roof  properly  equipped. 
This  arrangement  will  advance  our  mutual  as  well  as  our  com- 
bined interests.  You  will  be  safe  from  suspicion,  and  I  shall 
not  look  the  pauper  that  I  do  now.  The  history  of  my  dis- 
grace has  no  doubt  ere  this  reached  the  ears  of  my  family,  and 
perhaps  lowered  them  in  the  eyes  of  the  world ;  but  in  this 
country,  where  so  much  depends  upon  the  effect  of  outward 
show,  as  soon  as  it  is  kno\\'n  that  I  returned  to  them  mounted 
on  a  horse  with  an  enameled  bridle,  a  gold-pommeled  saddle, 
and  with  a  Cashmerian  shawl  round  my  waist,  they  as  well  as  I 
will  be  restored  to  our  proper  places  again.  After  I  have  en- 
joyed the  advantage  of  these  things  for  a  few  days,  it  will  be 
very  easy  to  sell  them  under  some  plausible  pretext,  and  then 
you  shall  duly  receive  their  amount." 

I  was  rather  startled  by  this  proposal,  for  certainly  my  com- 
panion had  not  inspired  me  with  suflBcient  confidence  to  en- 
courage me  trusting  him  with  so  much  property  without  any 
other  security  than  his  word.  But  I  felt  the  truth  of  all  he 
said.  It  was  impossible  for  me  to  keep  my  incognito  at  the 
village  for  ten  days  or  a  fortnight  dressed  as  I  was,  and  the 
possessor  of  a  fine  horse,  without  creating  suspicion.  I  was 
now,  'tis  true,  completely  in  the  power  of  the  mollah ;  but  by 
his  proposed  arrangement  he  would  have  become  such  an  ac- 
28* 


330  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA, 

complice  in  my  guilt,  that  he  could  never  denounce  me  without 
at  the  same  time  involving  himself. 

"But,"  said  I,  "suppose  a  NasakcM  discovers  the  horse, 
what  becomes  of  us  then  ?     You  will  be  seized  as  well  as  I." 

"God  is  great,"  answered  the  mollah ;  "no  one  can  have 
traveled  as  fast  as  we,  and  before  any  officer  can  arrive  at 
Hamadan  I  shall  have  reached  my  father's  house,  and  produced 
all  the  sensation  I  require  in  the  city.  It  will  be  easy  after  that 
to  secrete  both  the  horse  and  his  trappings.  I  take  all  the  risk 
upon  myself." 

Nothing  more  after  this  was  to  be  said  on  my  part.  We 
immediately  stripped,  and  made  an  exchange  of  clothes.  He 
got  from  me  the  deceased  Mollah  Basin's  under  garment,  his 
caba,  or  coat,  his  Cashmerian  girdle,  and  his  outward  cloak, 
made  of  a  dark  green  broad  cloth  ;  and  I,  in  return,  received 
his  old  clothes,  which  had  been  torn  on  his  person  the  day  he 
had  been  thrust  out  of  Tehran.  I  gave  him  my  black  cap, 
round  which  he  wound  the  chief  priest's  head-shawl,  which  I 
had  still  preserved ;  and,  in  return,  he  delivered  over  to  me  his 
skull-cap.  I  preserved  the  Mollah  Bashi's  purse,  the  remaining 
money,  the  watch  and  seals  ;  whilst  I  permitted  him  the  use  of 
the  ink-stand,  the  rosary,  the  pocket  looking-glass,  and  the 
comb.  He  then  stuck  the  roll  of  paper  in  his  girdle  ;  and  when 
completely  made  up  and  mounted,  he  looked  so  much  like  the 
deceased  chief  priest  himself,  that  I  quite  started  at  the  re- 
semblance. 

We  parted  with  great  apparent  affection  :  he  promised  that 
I  should  hear  from  him  immediately,  and  in  the  meanwhile  gave 
me  every  necessary  information  concerning  his  father's  village, 
leaving  it  to  my  own  ingenuity  to  make  out  as  plausible  a  story 
for  myself  as  I  might  be  able. 

He  then  rode  away,  leaving  me  with  no  very  agreeable  feel- 
ings, on  finding  myself  alone  in  the  world,  uncertain  of  the 
future,  and  suspicious  of  my  present  fate. 

I  made  the  best  of  my  road  to  the  village ;  but  was  ex- 
tremely puzzled  in  what  character  to  introduce  myself  to  the 
inhabitants.  In  fact,  I  looked  like  one  dropped  from  the  skies ; 
for  what  could  be  possibly  said  for  a  man  of  good  appearance, 
without  a  shawl  to  his  waist,  or  an  outer  coat  to  his  back,  with 
a  pair  of  slippers  to  his  feet,  and  a  skull  cap  on  his  head  ? 
After  much  hesitation,  I  determined  to  call  myself  a  merchant, 
who  had  been  robbed  and  plundered  by  the  Curds,  and  then 
sham  a  sickness,  which  might  be  a  pretext  for  remaining  in  the 
village  until  I  could  hear  from  the  mollah,  who  would  no  doubt 


HOW    HAJJI    BABA    BECAME    A    PREDESTINARIAN.  331 

furnish  me  with  intelligence  which  might  enable  me  to  determine 
how  long  I  ought  to  remain  in  my  hiding-place. 

In  this  I  succeeded  perfectly.  The  good  people  of  the  vil- 
lage, whom  heaven  for  my  good  luck  had  endowed  with  a  con- 
siderable share  of  dullness,  believed  my  story,  and  took  me  in. 
The  only  inconvenience  which  I  had  to  endure  was  the  neces- 
sity of  swallowing  the  prescriptions  of  an  old  woman,  the  doctor 
of  the  community,  who  was  called  to  show  her  skill  upon  me. 


CHAPTER  LXI. 

HOW    HAJJI    BABA    BECAME    A    PREDESTINARIAN. 

I  HAD  passed  ten  long  and  tedious  days  in  my  hiding-place, 
without  the  smallest  tidings  from  the  Mollah  Xadan.  I  was 
suspicious  that  his  star  was  still  glancing  obliquely  at  him,  and 
that  matters  had  not  gone  qnite  so  well  as  he  had  expected. 
Little  communication  existed  between  the  city  and  the  village  ; 
and  I  began  to  despair  of  ever  again  hearing  of  my  horse,  my 
rich  trappings  and  clothes,  when,  one  evening,  a  peasant,  who 
had  gone  to  the  market-place  of  Hamadan  for  the  purpose  of 
hiring  himself  as  a  laborer  in  the  fields,  and  who  had  returned 
disappointed,  by  his  discourse  threw  some  light  upon  my  ap- 
prehension. 

He  said,  that  a  great  stir  had  been  excited  by  the  arrival  of 
a  Nasakchi,  who  had  seized  the  son  of  their  Aga,  (the  owner  of 
the  village,)  taken  away  his  horse,  and  carried  him  off  prisoner 
to  the  capital,  under  the  accusation  of  being  the  murderer  of 
the  Mollah  Bashi  of  Tehran. 

I  leave  the  gentle  reader  to  judge  of  my  feelings  upon  hearing 
this  intelligence.  I  soon  became  satisfied  of  the  reason  of  the 
mollah's  silence  ;  and  although  I  felt  myself  secure  for  the  pre- 
sent, yet  I  was  far  from  certain  how  long  I  might  remain  so. 
I  immediately  declared  that  I  was  perfectly  restored  to  health, 
and  taking  a  hasty  leave  of  my  hospitable  villagers,  made  the 
best  of  my  way  to  Hamadan,  in  order  to  ascertain  the  truth  of 
the  peasant's  intelligence. 

Nadan's  father  was  well  known  in  the  city,  and  I  found  no 
difficulty  in  discovering  where  he  lived.  I  abstained  from  en- 
tering his  house,  and  making  any  direct  inquiries  concerning 
the  fate  of  my  friend  :  but  I  stopped  at  the  shop  of  a  barber  in 


332  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

the  neighborhood,  both  because  I  wanted  his  assistance  in 
giving  a  decent  appearance  to  my  head  and  face,  and  because  I 
knew  that  he  would  be  the  most  likely  person  to  inform  me  of 
the  real  state  of  the  case. 

I  found  him  as  talkative  and  as  officious  as  I  could  wish. 
When  I  had  asked  him  the  news  of  the  day,  and  had  pleaded 
my  ignorance  of  the  recent  occurrence  that  had  filled  every- 
body with  astonishment,  he  stepped  back  two  paces,  and  ex- 
claimed, "Whence  do  you  come,  that  the  iniquities  of  that  dog 
the  MoUah  Nadan  are  unknown  to  you  ?  He  was  not  satisfied 
with  killing  the  chief  priest,  but  he  must  needs  dress  himself  in 
his  very  clothes  ;  and,  not  content  with  that,  he  has  also  stolen 
one  of  the  chief  executioner's  best  horses  and  furniture. 
Wondrous  dirt  has  he  been  eating  I" 

I  entreated  my  informant  to  relate  all  the  particulars  of  a 
story  of  which  I  pretended  to  be  totally  ignorant ;  and  without 
waiting  for  a  second  request,  he  spoke  as  follows  : — 

"About  ten  days  ago  this  Nadan  arrived  at  the  gate  of  his 
father's  house,  mounted  on  a  superb  horse,  caparisoned  in  a 
style  more  fitting  a  khan  and  a  man  of  the  sword  than  a  poor 
servant  of  God.  He  was  dressed  in  shawls  of  the  finest  quality, 
and  looked  indeed  like  the  high  priest  himself.  His  appearance 
in  this  fashion  of  dress  and  equipage  created  an  extraordinary 
sensation  ;  because  a  very  short  time  before  it  was  reported  that 
he  had  incurred  the  Sbah's  displeasure,  and  had  been  turned 
out  of  Tehran  in  the  most  ignominious  manner.  He  gave  him- 
self all  sorts  of  airs  upon  alighting ;  and  when  questioned  con- 
cerning his  expulsion  from  the  capital,  he  appeared  to  make 
very  light  of  it,  and  said  that  he  had  been  made  to  understand, 
in  a  secret  manner,  that  his  disgrace  was  only  temporary ;  and 
that,  by  way  of  softening  it,  he  had  been  presented  with  the 
horse  which  he  then  rode. 

"This  tale  was  believed  by  every  one,  and  he  was  received 
at  his  father's  house  with  great  honors  ;  but  most  unfortunately, 
the  next  day,  when  about  mounting  his  horse  to  show  himself 
in  the  city,  a  Nasakchi  passed  the  gate  of  the  house,  having  just 
arrived  from  Tehran.  He  stopped,  and  looked  at  the  animal 
very  earnestly  ;  inspected  the  bridle,  and  gold-pommeled  saddle, 
and  then  cried  out,  La  Allah  il  Allah  I  there  is  but  one  God  I 
He  inquired  of  the  bystanders  to  whom  the  horse  belonged, 
and  was  informed  that  it  was  the  property  of  the  Mollah 
Nadan. 

"  '  The  Mollah  Nadan  !'  exclaimed  he  in  a  great  rage  :  '  whose 
dog  is  he  ?     That  horse  is  the  property  of  my  master,  the  chief 


HOW   HAJJI   BABA    BECAME    A    PREDESTINARIAN.  333 

executioner ;  and  whoever  says  it  is  not  is  a  liar,  whoever  he 
may  be,  mollah  or  no  mollah  !' 

"At  this  interval  appeared  the  delinquent  himself,  who,  upon 
seeing  what  was  going  on,  endeavored  to  hide  himself  from  the 
observation  of  the  Nasakehi ;  for  it  so  happened  that  he  was 
one  of  the  officers  who  had  paraded  him  through  the  capital  on 
the  day  of  his  disgrace. 

"  Wearing  the  garments  and  turbaned  cap  of  the  deceased 
chief  priest,  the  dangers  of  his  situation  immediately  stared 
him  in  the  face,  and  he  would  have  decamped  on  the  spot,  had 
he  not  been  recognized  by  the  Nasakchi,  who,  as  soon  as  he  saw 
him  cried  out,  '  Seize  him,  take  his  soul,  that  is  he — the  very 
man.  Well  done,  my  happy  stars  1  By  the  head  of  Ali,  by 
the  beard  of  the  prophet,  that  is  the  bankrupt  rogue  who  killed 
the  chief  priest  and  stole  my  master's  horse.' 

"  By  this  time  the  Nasakchi  had  dismounted,  and,  with  the 
assistance  of  his  own  attendant  and  of  the  bystanders,  (who 
soon  discovered  that  he  was  acting  under  authority,)  he  secured 
the  mollah,  who,  in  his  defence,  made  oath  upon  oath  that  he 
was  neither  thief  nor  murderer,  and  that  he  was  ready  to  swear 
his  innocence  upon  the  Koran." 

The  barber  related  very  faithfully  the  whole  conversation 
which  took  place  between  Nadan  and  the  Nasakchi,  the  result 
of  which  was  that  the  latter  took  the  former  with  him  to 
Tehran,  notwithstanding  all  the  interest  made  in  his  favor  by 
the  mollah's  father  and  friends. 

Never  was  breast  torn  by  so  many  contending  feelings  as 
mine,  upon  hearing  the  fate  that  had  befallen  my  companion, 
as  related  to  me  by  the  barber.  In  the  first  place,  I  be- 
moaned the  loss  of  my  horse  and  his  rich  trappings,  and  of  my 
fine  shawl  dresses ;  but  in  the  next,  I  enjoyed  a  feeling  of 
security  when  I  considered,  that  if  poor  Nadan  should  happen 
to  lose  his  head,  no  account  would  ever  be  asked  from  me  of 
my  late  iniquities.  I  still  could  not  help  looking  upon  myself 
as  one  under  the  protection  of  a  good  star,  whilst  the  mollah,  I 
concluded,  was  inevitably  doomed  to  be  unfortunate  :  else  why 
should  we  have  exchanged  clothes,  and  he  taken  my  horse  from 
me,  at  a  time  when  I  was  in  no  way  inclined  to  accede  to  his 
proposals  ?  But,  notwithstanding  there  was  every  likelihood 
that  he  would  sufler  the  punishment  due  to  me,  still,  for  the 
present,  I  could  not  feel  myself  secure  so  long  as  I  remained  in 
Persia,  and  therefore  determined  to  proceed  upon  my  original 
intention,  and  quit  it  without  further  delay.  I  consoled  myself 
for  the  loss  of  the  horse  and  clothes,  by  the  possession  of  the 
remaining  ninetv-five  tomauns,  which  would  be  sufficient  for  my 


334  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

present  wants ;  and  then  those  powerful  words,  Khoda  huzurg 
est!  God  is  great,  stood  me  in  lieu  (as  they  do  many  a  poor 
wretch  besides)  of  a  provision  for  the  future,  and  of  protection 
against  all  the  unforeseen  misfortunes  preparing  for  us  by  the 
hand  of  fate. 


CHAPTER    LXII. 

THE    TERRORS    OF    GUILT. 

Having  equipped  myself  as  a  merchant,  for  I  had  long  since 
determined  to  abandon  the  character  of  a  priest,  considering 
how  ill  I  had  succeeded  in  it,  I  sought  out  the  conductor  of  a 
caravan,  which  was  on  its  road  to  Kermanshah,  and  bargained 
with  him  for  the  hire  of  a  mule.  He  had  a  spare  one,  that  had 
run  unloaded  from  Tehran,  and  which  he  let  me  have  for  a 
trifle ;  and  as  I  had  no  baggage  but  what  I  carried  on  my 
back,  my  beast  and  I  agreed  very  well  together. 

We  reached  our  destination  on  the  seventh  day,  and  here  I 
was  obliged  to  look  out  for  a  fresh  conveyance.  I  was  informed 
that  none  was  likely  to  offer  under  a  month,  because,  owing  to 
the  Curdish  robbers,  who  infested  the  frontier,  no  caravan  ven- 
tured on  the  road  unless  its  numbers  were  considerable,  and  it 
would  take  some  time  to  collect  them ;  but  I  was  told  that  a 
caravan  of  pilgrims  and  dead  bodies  had  set  off  for  Kerbelah 
only  the  day  before,  and  that,  with  a  little  exertion,  I  might 
easily  overtake  them  before  they  had  reached  the  dangerous 
passes. 

Constantly  apprehensive  of  being  discovered  and  detained,  I 
did  not  hesitate  upon  the  course  to  adopt,  and  forthwith  set  off 
on  foot.  My  money  was  safely  deposited  in  my  girdle  ;  and 
without  any  other  baggage  than  a  good  staff  in  my  hand,  I  left 
Kermanshah  and  proceeded  on  my  road. 

On  the  evening  of  the  third  day,  when  nearly  exhausted  with 
fatigue,  my  eyes  were  cheered  by  the  sight  of  fires  at  a  distance, 
the  smoke  of  which  curled  up  over  the  brow  of  a  hill ;  and 
approaching  them,  I  discovered  cattle  spread  over  the  j^lain 
grazing,  and  thus  was  not  mistaken  in  supposing  that  the  cara- 
van was  nigh  at  hand.  As  I  advanced  towards  the  baggage, 
which  was  piled  up  in  a  hollow  square,  and  where  I  knew  I 
should  find  the  conductor,  I  observed  a  small  white  tent,  pitched 


THE  TERRORS  OF  GUILT.  335 

at  some  little  distance,  whicli  indicated  that  pilgrims  of  conse- 
quence were  of  the  party ;  and,  moreover,  that  women  were 
amongst  them,  for  a  Takhteravan  (a  litter)  and  a  Kejaveh 
(panniers)  were  seen  near  the  tent. 

I  gave  myself  out  for  a  pilgrim,  and  found  the  conductor 
very  ready  to  furnish  me  with  a  mule  for  my  conveyance. 
I  was  anxious  to  pass  unnoticed,  considering  the  predicament 
iu  which  I  stood ;  but  still  the  conscious  dignity  which  the 
ninety-five  pieces  of  gold  in  my  girdle  gave  me  made  it  difficult 
for  me  to  restrain  that  vanity  of  display  so  common  to  all  my 
countrymen. 

Among  the  baggage,  at  a  small  distance  from  the  square,  in 
which  I  was  seated,  were  several  long  and  narrow  packages 
sewn  up  in  thick  felts,  which  were  spread  iu  pairs  upon  the 
ground,  apparently  having  been  unloaded  there  from  the  backs 
of  camels.  I  inquired  what  they  might  be,  for  the  sight  of 
them  was  new  to  me,  and  wa,s  informed  that  they  contained 
dead  bodies  bound  to  Kerbelah. 

"  It  is  evident  you  are  a  stranger,"  said  the  conductor,  who 
appeared  to  be  as  loquacious  and  uiother-witted  as  those  of  his 
profession  generally  are,  "  or  otherwise  you  would  have  been 
better  informed.     We  are  carrying  rare  things  to  Kerbelah  !" 

"  Yes,"  said  I,  "  I  am  a  stranger ;  I  come  from  afar,  and  am 
like  one  descended  from  the  mountains.  In  God's  name,  what 
are  you  carrying  to  Kerbelah  ?" 

"  What !"  answered  he,  "  have  you  heard  nothing  of  the  ex- 
traordinary death  of  the  Mollah  Bashi  of  Tehran  ;  how  he  died 
in  the  bath ;  and  how  his  ghost  was  seen  on  horseback,  and 
then  in  his  harem ;  and  how  it  afterwards  ran  off  with  one  of 
the  chief  executioner's  best  horses  ?  Where  have  you  been 
living  all  this  while  ?"  added  he,  shaking  both  his  hands  be- 
fore him  as  he  spoke,  and  shrugging  up  his  shoulders. 

Alarmed  at  what  he  had  said,  I  pretended  ignorance ;  and 
requested  him  to  satisfy  my  curiosity  concerning  the  story  in 
question,  which  he  did  in  a  manner  that,  but  for  my  being  so 
deeply  implicated  in  it,  would  have  aflbrded  me  much  amuse- 
ment. 

"You  must  know  then,"  said  the  muleteer,  "that  what  I  am 
about  to  relate  is  true,  because  I  was  on  the  spot  in  person,  at 
the  time  it  happened. 

The  chief  priest  having  gone  to  the  bath  at  the  close  of  day, 
just  after  the  evening  prayer,  returned  to  his  house  surrounded 
by  his  servants,  and  retired  to  bed  for  the  night  in  the  khelwet 
of  his  women's  apartments. 

"  You  need  not  be  told  that  most  of  the  public  baths  in  Per- 


336    '  THE    ADVENTURES   OF   HAJJI    BABA, 

sia  are  open  to  the  women  the  first  thing  in  the  morning,  to  a 
certain  hour  in  the  day,  and  are  then  appropriated  to  the  men. 
The  wife  of  the  Mollah  Bashi,  attended  by  her  servants  and 
slaves,  the  morning  after  her  husband  had  bathed,  at  the  earliest 
sound  of  the  cow  horn,  proceeded  to  the  same  bath,  and  she 
and  her  suite  were  the  first  party  who  entered  it  on  that  day. 
Out  of  respect  to  their  mistress,  none  of  her  attendants  ven- 
tured to  get  into  the  reservoir  of  hot  water  before  her.  The 
cupola  of  the  bath  was  but  very  dimly  lighted  by  the  dawn  ; 
and  the  chief  priest's  wife  was  almost  in  utter  darkness  when 
she  entered  the  water.  Guess  at  her  horror,  when  scarcely 
having  proceeded  two  steps,  her  extended  hand  fell  upon  a  large 
mass  of  floating  flesh. 

"  Her  first  impulse  was  to  utter  an  amazing  shriek  ;  her 
second  to  tumble  headlong  out  as  if  she  had  been  pursued,  and 
straight  to  faint  away. 

"  The  consternation  which  she  produced  amongst  her  women 
may  easily  be  conceived.  One  after  the  other,  with  the  lamp 
in  their  hand,  they  looked  in,  shrieked,  and  then  ran  back,  not 
one  among  them  having  yet  discovered  what  was  the  object  of 
their  terror. 

"  At  length,  the  old  duenna  taking  courage,  looked  boldly 
into  the  reservoir,  and  to  her  surprise  she  there  found  a  dead 
man.  More  screams  and  cries  ensued,  which  having  brought 
the  chief  priest's  wife  to  her  senses,  caused  her  to  join  the  in- 
specting party.  Little  could  be  recognized  of  a  floating  corpse 
inflated  with  water,  presenting  various  odd  surfaces  to  the  eye, 
and  giving  but  little  clue  to  discovery.  At  length  the  head  and 
face  appeared  to  view ;  and,  as  soon  as  the  old  duenna  had  ap- 
])lied  her  lamp  to  it,  one  and  all  cried  out,  '  O  Ali  I  it  is  the 
Mollah  Bashi ;  it  is  the  Mollah  Bashi !' 

"  The  wife  again  fell  into  a  trance ;  the  slaves  made  their 
cries  ;  in  short,  there  was  that  stir  amongst  them,  that  one 
would  have  thought  they  had  heard  the  '  blast  of  consternation 
from  the  trumpets  of  the  resurrection.' 

"  But  amidst  all  the  wailing,  which  by  this  time  had  attracted 
every  woman  in  the  building,  one  of  the  slaves  cried  out,  '  But 
it  cannot  be  our  Aga,  for  I  saw  him  return  from  the  bath,  I 
made  his  bed,  and  I  am  sure  he  was  soon  after  asleep.  It  is 
impossible  that  he  can  be  in  bed  and  asleep,  and  in  the  bath, 
drowned,  at  one  and  the  same  time.  It  must  be  somebody 
else.' 

"  This  observation  threw  them  all  into  greater  consternation 
than  ever,  because  they  immediately  felt  that  what  the  slave  had 
seen  must  have  been  her  master's  ghost.    '  See,'  said  the  wife, — 


THE   TERRORS   OF   GUILT.  331 

who  had  again  come  to  life, — pointing  to  the  face  of  the  corpse, 
'  I  am  sure  this  was  my  husband ;  there  is  the  scratch  I  gave 
him  but  yesterday.' — '  And  there,'  said  one  of  her  servants, 
'  that  is  the  place  in  his  beard  from  which  you  plucked  a  hand- 
ful of  hairs.' 

"  These  tender  recollections  threw  the  poor  widow  into  a  vio- 
lent flood  of  tears,  which  were  only  stopped  by  her  slaves  as- 
suring her  that  the  MoUah  Bashi  was  still  alive  :  '  How  else 
could  he  have  taken  the  lamp  from  my  hand?'  said  the  slave — 
*  how  could  he  have  shut  the  door  ?  how  dismissed  me  ?  how 
snored  ?'  So  persuaded  was  she  of  the  truth  of  what  she  said, 
that  she  forthwith  dressed  herself,  and  volunteered  to  go  to  her 
master's  bed-room,  where  no  doubt  she  would  find  him  asleep. 

"  '  But  if  he  is  there,'  said  one  of  the  women,  '  then  what  can 
this  be  ?'  (pointing  to  the  corpse.) 

"  '  Why,  this  must  be  his  ghost,'  said  another ;  '  for  surely 
no  man  can  possess  two  bodies, — one  in  which  he  lives,  and  the 
other  by  way  of  a  change.' 

"  '  No,'  said  a  third  in  a  waggish  tone,  that  would  be  quite 
new.  He  might  then  make  the  same  use  of  them  as  he  would 
of  a  town  and  country  house.' 

"  All  this  time,  (many  additional  bathers  having  poured  in,) 
whilst  those  who  were  indifferent  were  speculating  after  this 
fashion,  the  chief  priest's  women  were  uttering  loud  and  pierc- 
ing shrieks,  particularly  when  the  slave  returned  and  informed 
them  that  no  Mollah  Bashi  had  she  found,  and  that  he  had  left 
no  trace  behind  except  the  print  of  his  body  in  the  bed. 

"  The  story  had  now  got  abroad,  the  bath  was  surrounded 
by  a  crowd,  who  pressed  to  gain  admittance :  and  ere  the  wo- 
men had  had  time  to  dress  themselves,  the  place  was  full  of 
men.  Such  a  scene  of  confusion  as  then  ensued  had  never  be- 
fore been  witnessed  in  a  public  bath  at  Tehran.  What  with 
the  wailing  and  lamentations  of  the  women  of  the  chief  priest, — 
what  with  the  noise  and  cries  of  those  who  inveighed  against 
the  intrusion  of  the  men — the  clamor  was  excessive. 

"  At  length  the  friends  and  relations  of  the  deceased  ap- 
peared, and,  with  them,  the  washers  of  the  dead,  who  imme- 
diately bore  the  corpse  to  the  place  of  ablution,  where  it  was 
embalmed,  and  prepared  to  perform  its  journey  to  Kcrbelah, 
for  thither  it  was  judged  expedient  to  send  it  for  burial. 

"His  widow  at  once  avowed  her  intention  of  accompanying 
the  body;  and  my  mules,"  added  my  informant,  "were  hired 
on  the  occasion.  The  tent  you  see  yonder  is  occupied  by  her 
and  her  slaves;  and  there,"  pointing  to  the  packages,  "lies  the 
carcass  of  her  husband.  The  accompanying  dead  bodies  are 
29 


338  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

the  remains  of  those  who,  both  at  Tehran  and  on  our  road 
hither,  died  about  the  time  that  this  event  took  place,  and  are 
now  sent  to  Kerbelah  to  be  buried  in  the  suite  and  under  the 
protection  of  one  who,  at  the  day  of  resurrection,  it  is  hoped, 
may  lend  them  a  helping  hand  into  paradise." 

Here  the  conductor  stopped,  whilst  I,  who  had  been  struck 
by  the  latter  part  of  his  speech,  became  almost  mute  from  fear. 
I  felt  that  having  endeavored  to  escape  danger,  I  had  fallen  into 
its  very  mouth.  "Were  I  to  be  recognized  by  the  chief  priest's 
servants,  some  of  whom  I  had  known  intimately,  their  know- 
ledge of  my  person  would  lead,  to  my  discovery. 

"  But  what  happened  after  the  corpse  was  carried  out  of  the 
bath  ?"  said  I,  anxious  to  know  whether  the  clothes  which  I 
had  left  in  one  of  its  corners  had  been  noticed. 

"By  the  head  of  Alii"  said  the  man,  "I  do  not  very  well 
recollect.  This  I  know,  that  many  stories  were  in  circulation ; 
and  every  person  had  a  different  one.  Some  said  that  the 
chief  priest,  after  being  drowned,  was  seen  in  his  anderun  and 
went  to  bed.  Others  that  he  appeared  the  next  morning  at 
the  chief  executioner'a  and  rode  away  with  one  of  his  best 
horses.  The  chief  executioner  himself  shows  a  note  of  his, 
sealed  with  his  seal,  giving  him  permission  to  drink  wine.  In 
short,  so  many  and  so  contradictory  were  the  reports,  that  no 
one  knew  what  to  believe.  All  were  puzzled  to  find  out  how 
he  managed  to  get  alive  out  of  the  bath,  (for  that  is  attested 
by  his  servants,  and  by  the  master  of  the  bath,)  and  still  remain 
in  the  reservoir.  Difficulties  continued  to  increase  as  fast  as 
people  argued,  until  a  discovery  took  place  which  threw  a  mar- 
velous light  upon  the  subject.  Some  clothes  were  found  in  a 
dark  corner  of  the  bath.  They  were  torn  and  in  bad  case  ;  but 
without  much  difficulty  they  were  known  to  liave  belonged  to 
one  Hajji  Baba,  a  driveling  priest,  and  an  attendant  upon  that 
famous  breeder  of  disturbance,  the  Mollah  Nadan,  the  open 
and  avowed  enemy  of  the  head  of  the  law.  Then  everybody 
exclaimed,  '  Hajji  Baba  is  the  murderer  1  without  doubt  he  is 
the  murderer  of  the  holy  man,  he  must  pay  the  price  of  blood  I' 
and  all  the  city  was  in  full  search  for  Hajji  Baba.  Many 
said  that  Nadan  was  the  culprit;  in  short,  messengers  have 
been  sent  all  over  the  country,  to  seize  them  both,  and  carry 
them,  dead  or  alive,  to  Tehran.  I  only  wish  that  my  fate  may 
be  sufficiently  on  the  ascent,  to  throw  either  of  them  into  my 
hands ;  such  a  prize  would  be  worth  my  Avhole  mule  hire  to 
Kerbelah." 

I  leave  every  one  to  guess  ray  feelings  upon  hearing  this 
language ;  I  who  was  never  famous  for  facing  difficulties  with 


A   NARROW   ESCAPE.  339 

courage,  and  who  would  always  rather,  as  a  preliminary  to 
safety,  make  use  of  the  swiftness  of  my  heels,  in  preference  to 
adopting  any  other  measure.  But  here  to  retreat  was  more 
dangerous  than  to  proceed ;  for  in  a  very  short  time  I  should 
be  in  the  territory  of  another  government,  until  when,  I  pro- 
mised faithfully  to  wrap  myself  up  in  the  folds  of  my  om\ 
counsel ;  and  to  continue  my  road  with  all  the  wariness  of  one 
who  is  surrounded  by  imminent  danger. 


CHAPTER   LXIII. 

A    NARROW    ESCAPE. 

The  caravan  pursued  its  march  early  the  next  morning,  and 
I  took  my  station  among  the  muleteers  and  the  hangers  on, 
(many  of  whom  are  always  at  hand,)  in  order  to  screen  myself 
from  notice.  The  litter  with  the  chief  priest's  widow,  and  her 
attendants,  preceded  the  line  of  march,  the  camels  with  the 
bodies  followed,  and  the  remainder  of  the  caravan,  consisting 
principally  of  loaded  mules,  spread  itself  in  a  long  straggling 
line  over  the  road. 

I  envied  every  fellow  who  had  a  more  ruffian-like  face,  or  a 
more  ragged  coat  than  my  own  ;  so  fearful  was  I  of  being 
thought  good-looking  enough  to  be  noticed.  More  particularly 
I  dreaded  the  approach  of  the  widow's  servants,  for  although  I 
was  dying  to  know  if  any  of  them  were  of  my  acquaintance,  yet 
I  carefully  turned  my  head  on  one  side,  as  soon  as  there  was  the 
smallest  likelihood  of  their  looking  towards  me. 

The  first  day's  march  had  passed  over  in  safety  ;  and  I  laid 
my  head  on  a  projecting  part  of  the  baggage,  where  I  slept 
sound  through  the  night.  I  was  equally  fortunate  on  the  second 
day,  and  with  so  much  confidence  did  this  success  inspire  me, 
that  I  began  to  be  ambitious  of  associating  with  something 
better  than  a  common  mule-driver. 

I  had  opened  a  conversation  with  one  whom  I  was  informed 
was  an  Armenian  bishop  ;  and  had  already  made  him  under- 
stand how  thankful  he  ought  to  be  for  being  thus  noticed  by  a 
true  believer,  v/hen  one  of  the  much  dreaded  attendants  rode  by 
us,  and  in  him  I  recognized  the  man  who  had  endeavored  to 
palm  off  a  rauti  upon  me,  upon  my  first  introduction  to  the 
Mollah  Nadan.     My  heai't  leapt  into  my  mouth  at  the  sight  of 


340  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

him.  The  chief  priest's  ghost,  had  it  appeared,  conld  not  have 
frightened  me  more.  I  turned  my  head  quickly  on  one  side, 
but  he  passed  on  without  heeding  me  ;  so  for  this  time  I  was  let 
off  only  with  the  fright ;  but  I  resolved  to  return  to  my  humble 
station  again,  and  forthwith  left  the  bishop  to  his  own  med- 
itations. 

On  the  following  day  we  were  to  pass  through  the  defiles  in- 
fested by  the  Curdish  banditti,  when  every  one  would  be  too 
much  taken  up  with  his  own  safety  to  think  of  me.  Once  having 
passed  them,  we  should  no  longer  be  in  the  Persian  territory, 
and  I  might  then  claim  protection  of  the  Turks,  in  case  I  were 
discovered  and  seized. 

On  that  eventful  day,  a  day  well  remembered  in  the  annals  of 
my  adventurous  life,  the  caravan  wore  a  military  appearance. 
All  those  who  possessed  anything  in  the  form  of  a  weapon, 
brought  it  forth  and  made  a  display.  The  whole  scene  put  me 
in  mind  of  a  similar  one  which  I  have  recorded  in  the  first 
pages  of  my  history ;  when,  in  company  with  Osraan  Aga,  we 
encountered  an  attack  from  the  Turcomans.  The  same  symp- 
toms of  fear  showed  themselves  on  this  occasion  as  on  that ;  and 
I  am  honest  enough  to  own  that  time  had  not  strengthened  my 
nerves,  nor  given  me  any  right  to  the  title  of  lion-eater. 

The  whole  caravan  marched  in  compact  order,  marshaled  by 
a  ehaoush  and  by  the  conductor,  who,  with  the  servants  of  the 
chief  priest's  wife,  formed  a  sort  of  vanguard  to  the  main  body. 
I,  who  had  ray  own  safety  to  consult  for  more  reasons  than  one, 
huddled  myself  among  the  crowd,  with  no  other  property  than 
the  money  in  my  girdle. 

We  were  proceeding  in  silence ;  nothing  was  heard  save  the 
bells  of  the  caravan,  and  I  was  deep  in  thought  in  what  manner 
I  might  dispose  of  my  ninety-five  tomauns,  on  our  arrival  at 
Bagdad;  when,  turning  up  my  eyes,  I  perceived  the  conductor 
and  a  well  equipped  Persian  riding  towards  me. 

The  conductor  pointed  with  his  hand  to  me,  and  said  to  his 
companion,  "  hem  een  est,^'  this  is  even  he  I 

"  By  the  beard  of  Allah  !"  thought  I,  "  my  good  fortune  has 
tnrned  its  back  upon  me." 

I  looked  at  the  conductor's  companion,  whom  I  instantly 
discovered  to  be  the  very  Abdul  Kerim,  frrom  whom  I  had  ex- 
tracted the  one  hundred  tomauns,  at  the  village  of  Seidabad. 
by  means  of  the  letter  which  I  had  written  in  the  name  of  the 
deceased  chief  priest. 

1  was  about  giving  myself  up  for  lost,  when  the  conductor 
relieved  me  a  little,  by  saying,  "You  are  the  last  man  who 
joined  our  caravan ;  perhaps  you  can  tell  us  upon  what  part 


A    NARROW    ESCAPE.  341 

of  the  frontiers  Kelb  Ali  Khan,  the  robber,  is  said  to  be  at 
present." 

I  answered  him  in  a  great  state  of  perturbation ;  but  kept 
my  eyes  fixed  upon  Abdul  all  the  while,  who  also  began  to 
stare  at  me  with  those  penetrating  eyes  of  his,  which  almost 
turned  my  heart  inside  out.  He  continued  looking  at  me  like 
one  in  doubt,  whilst  I  endeavored  to  skulk  away ;  but  at 
length  appearing  to  recollect  himself,  he  exclaimed,  "I  have  it, 
I  have  it !  it  is  the  very  man ;  he  it  was  who  laughed  at  my 
beard  and  stole  the  hundred  tomauns."  Then  addressing  him- 
self to  the  bystanders,  he  said,  "  If  you  want  a  thief,  there  is 
one.     Seize  him  in  the  name  of  the  Prophet !" 

I  began  to  expostulate,  and  to  deny  the  accusation,  and  pro- 
bably should  have  succeeded  to  convince  those  who  surrounded  us 
that  I  was  wrongly  accused,  when,  to  my  consternation,  the  pro- 
moter of  matrimony  came  up,  at  once  recognized  me,  and  called 
me  by  my  name.  Then  my  whole  history  came  to  light.  I  was 
denounced  as  the  murderer  of  the  chief  priest,  and  this  event 
produced  so  general  a  bustle  throughout  the  caravan,  that  fear 
of  the  robbers  was  for  a  while  suspended,  and  every  one  came 
to  gaze  upon  me. 

I  was  seized,  ray  hands  were  pinioned  behind  my  back,  I  was 
about  being  dragged  before  the  chief  priest's  widow  to  be  ex- 
hibited, when  my  good  planet  came  to  my  help  and  showed  its 
ascendant.  Of  a  sudden  a  great  cry  was  heard  at  a  distance, 
and  to  my  delight  I  beheld  a  body  of  cavaliers  rushing  down 
the  slope  of  an  adjacent  hill.  These  were  the  very  Curds  so 
much  dreaded.  The  consternation  was  universal,  the  whole 
caravan  was  thrown  into  confusion,  and  resistance  was  unavail- 
ing when  both  heart  and  hand  were  wanting.  Those  who  were 
mounted  ran  away  ;  the  muleteers,  anxious  for  the  safety  of 
their  cattle,  cut  the  ropes  of  their  loads,  which  fell,  and  were 
left  spread  on  the  plain  to  the  mercy  of  the  marauders.  The 
camels  were  also  disencumbered  of  their  burthens,  and  coflflns 
were  to  be  seen  in  all  parts  of  the  road.  I  remarked  that  the 
one  containing  the  chief  priest  had  fallen  into  a  rivulet,  as  if 
fate  was  not  tired  of  drowning  him.  In  short,  the  rout  was 
universal  and  complete. 

I  soon  was  left  to  myself,  and  easily  found  means  to  disen- 
gage my  bonds.  I  perceived  that  the  Curds  had  directed  their 
attention  principally  to  the  litter  and  its  attendants,  where 
they  expected  to  find  prisoners  of  consequence ;  and  it  rejoiced 
me  to  observe,  that  those  whom  but  a  few  minutes  before  I  had 
looked  upon  as  destined  to  be  the  perpetrators  of  ray  ruin,  and 
very  possibly  of  my  death,  were  now  themselves  thrown  into  a 
29* 


342  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

dilemma  nearly  equally  disastrous  with  the  one  from  which  l 
was  now  relieved. 

In  vain  the  widow's  attendants  threatened,  swore,  and  ba.<e 
defiance  ;  nothing  would  soften  their  wild  and  barbarous  assail- 
ants, who,  under  some  lawless  pretext  of  fees  to  be  paid,  began 
a  regular  pillage  of  such  parts  of  the  caravan  as  had  not  fled 
their  attack.  I  again  had  an  opportunity  of  ascertaining  that 
my  good  star  was  prevailing ;  for  now,  whilst  those  who  pos- 
sessed any  article  of  dress  which  might  give  respectability  to 
their  appearance  became  the  object  of  the  robbers'  attention, 
I  and  my  solitary  mule  had  the  satisfaction  to  find  ourselves 
so  totally  unworthy  of  notice,  that  we  proceeded  without  moles- 
tation on  the  original  object  of  our  journey.  I  owned  no 
corpse — I  was  not  called  upon  to  pay  duty  upon  a  dead  rela- 
tion— I  was  free  as  air ;  and  as  soon  as  I  once  found  my- 
self released  from  the  thousand  miseries  which  had  arisen  all 
around  me,  and  which,  as  if  by  magic,  had  been  as  quickly  dis- 
pelled, I  went  my  way,  exclaiming,  "  Barikallah,  ei  talleh  mun! 
Well  done,  oh  my  good  fortune  I" 


CHAPTER  LXIY. 

ARRIVES    AT   BAGDAD. 

Leaving  the  Mollah  Bashi's  widow,  her  slaves,  and  attend- 
ants, in  the  hands  of  the  Curds,  I  made  the  best  of  my  way  to 
iny  destination  ;  and  caring  little  to  hold  converse  with  any 
one,  after  what  had  so  recently  taken  place,  I  shaped  my  course 
iu  such  a  manner  as  not  to  attract  observation. 

Many  stragglers,  flying  from  the  Curds,  were  to  be  seen  on 
the  road  ;  but  as  they  all,  more  or  less,  had  interest  in  the  fate 
of  the  caravan,  they  did  not  proceed  far,  but  hovered  about  the 
scene  of  action,  in  the  hopes  of  reclaiming  either  their  friends 
or  their  property.  I  alone  seemed  to  be  totally  independent, 
and  by  the  time  I  had  traveled  two  or  three  parasangs  from  the 
danger,  1  had  the  road  to  myself.  Everything  that  had  be- 
fallen me  was  turned  over  and  over  again  in  my  mind,  and  I 
came  to  this  conclusion,  that  powerfully  protected  as  I  seemed 
to  be  by  fate,  I  might  again  turn  my  steps  towards  the  paths 
of  ambition,  and  hope  that  my  last  failure  in  the  pursuits  of 


ARRIVES    AT    BAGDAD.  343 

advancement  was  to  be  made  up  by  realizing  a  speedy  and 
ample  forturne. 

"Ninety-fiv©  tomauns  in  my  girdle,  and  all  the  world  before 
me,"  said  I,  "  is  no  insignificant  prospect.  And  if  Nadan  be 
but  blown  from  a  mortar,  and  the  chief  priest's  widow  detained 
and  ruined  by  the  Curds,  I  do  not  see  why  I  may  not  put  my 
cap  on  one  side  as  well  as  the  best  man  in  Persia." 

At  length  the  walls  and  turrets  of  Bagdad  appeared  in  view, 
and  I  entered  the  city  a  total  stranger,  and  ignorant  of  its  lo- 
calities. Caravanserais  I  knew  that  I  should  find  at  every  turn, 
and  indifferent  whither  I  bent  my  steps,  or  where  I  alighted,  I 
let  my  mule  take  the  road  it  liked  best.  Well  acquainted  with 
every  street,  the  animal  took  me  to  a  large  caravanserai,  where 
it  no  doubt  had  long  been  accustomed  to  resort,  and  there 
stopping,  gave  several  loud  grunts  as  it  entered  the  porch,  in 
the  expectation  of  meeting  its  companions  of  the  caravan. 
Although  disappointed,  yet  I  was  more  fortunate,  (if  fortunate 
I  could  call  myself,)  in  seeing  some  of  my  countrymen  in  the 
square,  and  I  soon  found  out  that  this  was  their  usual  rendez- 
vous. 

My  person,  I  flattered  myself,  could  attract  no  notice,  go 
where  I  might :  but  I  was  sorry  to  find  it  otherwise.  Upon 
alighting  I  was  assailed  by  a  thousand  questions — the  caravan 
was  hourly  expected,  the  merchants  were  eager  for  the  recep- 
tion of  their  goods,  and  I  might  possibly  give  them  some  intel- 
ligence respecting  it.  I  made  such  answers  as  were  necessary 
for  the  occasion  ;  but  resolved  within  myself  very  soon  to  quit 
so  inquisitive  a  society,  and  bury  myself  in  obscurity.  I  ac- 
cordingly left  my  mule  to  its  fate,  reflecting  that  its  owner 
would  very  soon  arrive  and  take  possession  of  it,  and  straight- 
way settled  myself  in  another  part  of  the  city. 

As  a  first  step  towards  preserving  ray  incognito,  I  exchanged 
my  dusty  and  weather-beaten  sheep-skin  cap  for  a  head- 
dress of  the  country,  namely,  a  long  red  cloth  bag,  which  fell 
down  in  a  flap  behind,  and  fastened  to  my  head  with  a  party- 
colored  silk.  I  also  bought  a  second-hand  beniche,  or  cloak, 
usually  worn  by  the  Turks,  which,  going  over  my  Persian  gar- 
ments, gave  me  the  general  appearance  of  an  Osmanli ;  and 
and  finished  my  adjustment  by  a  pair  of  bright  crimson  leather 
slippers. 

Ilaving  done  this,  it  came  into  ray  head  that  ranch  good 
might  accrue  if  I  made  myself  known  to  the  family  of  ray  first 
master,  Osman  Aga,  for  through  them  I  might  make  ac- 
quaintance in  the  city,  and  promote  ray  views  in  trade. 

I  accordingly  sallied  forth,  and  took  my  road  through  the 


344  THE    ADVENTURES    OF   IIAJJI    BABA. 

principal  bazaars  and  bezestens,  in  order  to  make  inquiries,  and 
particularly  stopped  where  Iamb-skins  were  sold,  for  I  well  re- 
collected that  they  were  his  favorite  article  of  trade.  I  also 
recollected  many  particulars  concerning  Bagdad,  which  he 
used  to  take  pleasure  in  relating  during  our  journeys,  and  I 
fancied  that  I  could  almost  find  my  way  to  his  very  door  with- 
out inquiry. 

However,  my  trouble  was  soon  at  an  end,  for  in  putting  my 
head  into  the  shop  of  one  of  the  principal  Bokhara  merchants, 
and  inquiring  if  any  news  had  reached  Bagdad  of  one  Osman 
Aga,  I  heard  a  well  known  voice,  in  answer  say,  "Who  wants 
me  ?     In  the  name  of  the  Prophet,  I  am  he  1" 

Guess  at  my  joy  and  surprise — it  was  the  old  man  himself. 
I  was  almost  as  much  astonished  to  see  him  at  Bagdad,  as  I 
had  before  been  to  meet  him  at  Tehran,  and  his  surprise  was 
equal  to  mine.  I  related  as  much  of  my  history  as  I  thought 
it  necessary  for  him  to  know,  and  he  told  me  his  in  return, 
which  in  two  words  was  as  follows. 

He  had  left  Tehran  in  the  determination  of  proceeding  to 
Constantinople,  there  to  dispose  of  his  merchandise,  but  hear- 
ing that  great  danger  of  being  robbed  existed  on  the  road 
between  Erivan  and  Arz  Roum,  he  had  deemed  it  a  safer  plan 
to  visit  Bagdad  ;  and  here  he  was  restored  to  his  native  city 
after  an  absence  of  many  years.  He  had  found  his  son  grown 
up  to  man's  estate,  who,  having  gone  through  all  the  ceremony 
of  mourning  for  his  loss,  had  duly  taken  possession  of  his  patri- 
mony, which,  according  to  the  law,  he  had  shared  in  the  pre- 
scribed portions  between  his  mother  and  sister.  But  as  soon 
as  his  father  was  restored  to  him,  he  made  no  wry  faces,  but, 
like  a  good  Mussulman,  put  into  practice  that  precept  of  the 
Koran  which  ordaineth  man  to  show  kindness  to  his  parents — 
but  noj,  to  say  unto  them,  "Fie  upon  you!"  The  old  man 
added,  that  he  had  found  lijs  wife  alive,  and  that  his  daughter 
was  old  enough  to  be  married. 

But  having  thus  disburthened  himself  of  this  short  history 
of  his  adventures,  he  turned  round  upon  me  in  a  sharper  man- 
ner than  he  had  ever  done  before,  and  said,  "Bnt,  Hajji,  my 
friend,  in  the  name  of  the  blessed  Mohamed,  what  could  have 
possessed  you  to  join  me  to  that  female  Satan  at  Tehran,  by 
way  of  making  me  pass  my  time  agreeably  ?  By  the  salt  which 
we  have  so  often  eat  together,  the  few  days  that  I  passed  in  her 
company  were  filled  with  more  misery  than  was  the  whole  time 
I  spent  among  the  Turcomans  I  Was  it  right  to  treat  an  old 
friend  thus  ?" 

I  assured  him  that  I  had  no  object  in  view  but  his  happiness, 


ARRIVES    AT    BAGDAD.  345 

taking  it  for  granted  that  she,  who  had  been  the  favorite  of  the 
monarch  of  Persia,  must,  even  in  her  latter  days,  have  had 
charms  more  than  enough  for  one  who  had  passed  some  of  the 
best  years  of  his  life  with  camels. 

"Camels!"  exclaimed  Osman,  "camels,  indeed!  they  are 
angels  compared  to  this  fury.  Would  to  Heaven  that  you  had 
married  me  to  a  camel  instead,  for  it,  at  least,  poor  animal, 
would  have  sat  quiet,  with  calm  and  thoughtful  gravity,  and 
let  me  have  my  own  way;  whereas  your  dragon,  she,  the  viper, 
she  passed  her  whole  time  in  telling  me  how  vastly  honored  I 
was  in  having  taken  to  wife  one  who  had  led  the  Shah  by  the 
beard,  and  enforced  each  word  with  either  a  slap  or  a  scratch. 
Aman !  Aman !"  said  the  old  man,  rubbing  his  hand  on  his 
cheek,  "  I  think  I  feel  them  now." 

He  at  length  ceded  to  my  assurances  that  I  had  no  other  ob- 
ject in  view  than  his  happiness,  and  then  very  kindly  asked  me 
to  take  up  my  abode  at  his  house  during  my  stay  at  Bagdad,  to 
which,  of  course,  I  acceded  with  all  manner  of  pleasure. 

This  conversation  had  taken  place  in  the  back  room  of  the 
Bokhara  merchant's  shop,  during  which  the  old  man  had  treated 
me  to  five  paras  worth  of  coifee,  brought  from  a  neighboring 
coffee-house  ;  and  when  it  was  over,  he  proposed  going  to  his 
son's  shop,  situated  in  the  same  bazaar,  some  few  doors  farther 
on.  His  spn's  name  was  Suleiman.  Having  set  himself  up  in 
the  cloth  trade  during  his  father's  long  absence,  he  had  acquired 
an  easy  livelihood,  and  passed  the  greatest  part  of  the  day,  (ex- 
cept when  necessary  to  go  to  his  prayers,)  seated  in  the  little 
platform  in  the  front  of  his  shop,  surrounded  by  his  merchan- 
dise, neatly  arranged  on  shelves  fixed  in  the  wall.  He  was  a 
fat,  squat  little  man,  very  like  his  father ;  and  when  he  was  in- 
formed that  I  was  Hajji  Baba,  of  whom  no  doubt  he  had  heard 
much,  he  said  that  I  was  welcome,  and  taking  the  pipe  which 
he  was  smoking  from  his  own  mouth,  he  immediately  transferred 
it  to  mine. 

These  preliminaries  of  mutual  good-will  being  established,  I 
enjoyed  the  prospect  of  any  easy  and  quiet  sojourn  at  Bagdad, 
in  the  company  of  these  good  people ;  but  in  order  to  show 
that  I  did  not  intend  wholly  to  be  a  dependent  upon  them,  I 
made  it  known  that  I  was  possessed  of  ninety-five  tomauns,  and 
asked  their  opinion  upon  the  mode  of  laying  them  out  to  the 
best  advantage  in  trade.  I  gave  them  to  understand  that, 
tired  of  the  buffetings  of  an  adventurer's  life,  it  was  my  inten- 
tion for  the  future  to  devote  my  time  to  securing  an  indepen- 
dence by  my  own  industry.  Many  had  acquired  wealth  from 
beginnings  much  smaller  than  mine,  said  I ;  to  which  they  both 


346  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

agreed  :  and,  as  we  anticipated  the  fortune  that  I  was  to  make, 

Osman  Aga  gravely  let  off  the  only  bit  of  Persian  poetry, 

which  he  had  picked  up  during  his  travels — "Drop  by  drop 

water  distilleth  from  the  rock,  till  at  length  it  becometh  a  sea." 

Upon  this  conclusion  we,  that  is,  the  father  and  I,  proceeded 

to  his  house,  which  was  situated  at  a  convenient  distance  from 

the  bazaars. 

I 


CHAPTER  LXV. 

INSPIRES   A   HOPELESS  PASSION. 

OsMAN  Aga's  house  was  situated  in  a  narrow  lane,  leading 
out  of  the  street  which  leads  into  one  of  the  prificipal  bazaars. 
Immediately  in  front  of  the  door  was  a  heap  of  rubbish,  upon 
which  a  litter  of  kittens  had  just  been  thrown,  making  an  essay 
of  their  young  voices  as  we  passed ;  and  a  little  further,  on  a 
similar  mound,  a  colony  of  puppies  had  been  planted,  guarded 
by  a  mangy  mother,  which,  by  their  imited  cries,  left  us  nothing 
to  desire  in  the  way  of  discord.  Between  these  was  situated 
the  gate  of  Osman  Aga's  house,  into  which  we  entered.  It  was 
a  small  building,  consisting  of  some  crazy  rooms,  which  neither 
indicated  riches  nor  cleanliness.  As  I  had  no  baggage  belong- 
ing to  me,  except  a  small  carpet,  my  removal  here  from  the 
caravanserai  was  soon  accomplished,  and  I  took  up  my  future 
abode  in  a  corner  of  mine  host's  principal  room,  where  he  also 
.spread  his  bed  and  slept. 

By  way  of  celebrating  my  arrival,  he  treated  me  with  roasted 
lamb,  and  an  abundant  dish  of  rice,  to  which  were  added  dates, 
cheese,  and  onions.  The  dishes  were  cooked  in  the  harem  by 
the  hands  of  his  wife  and  daughter,  aided  by  a  female  slave,  the 
only  domestic  in  the  establishment.  Neither  of  these  had  I 
yet  seen,  for  it  was  dusk  when  we  reached  the  house;  nor,  from 
good  manners,  did  I  ask  more  about  them  than  Osman  was  in- 
clined to  tell  me. 

Besides  myself  and  his  son,  the  old  man  had  invited  k  brother 
dealer  in  lamb-skins  to  the  entertainment,  with  whom  he  had 
formed  a  close  intimacy  during  -his  travels  in  Bokhara.  The 
conversation  turned  exclusively  upon  commerce,  about  which  I 
was  so  ignorant,  that  I  took  very  little  shai'e  in  it,  although  con- 
sidering that  it  was  my  intention  to  enter  it  myself,  I  was  very 
happy  to  open  my  ears  to  all  that  was  said. 


INSPIRES    A    HOPELESS    PASSION,  347 

They  entered  deeply  into  the  subject,  and  discussed  the  rela- 
tive merits  of  each  article  of  trade.  To  hear  them  talk,  one 
might  have  inferred  that  the  end  of  the  world  was  at  hand, 
because  it  was  rumored  that  the  price  of  their  favorite  com- 
modity had  fallen  at  Constantinople.  They  dissuaded  me  from 
embarking  my  capital  in  that  article,  but  recommended  in 
preference  that  I  should  invest  it  in  pipe-sticks,  which,  they 
remarked,  were  subject  to  no  decay,  and  for  which  there  was  a 
constant  demand  in  the  market  of  Constantinople, 

The  entertainment  being  over,  and  the  guests  having  parted, 
I  ruminated  deeply  upon  what  I  had  heard,  and  forthwith 
turned  the  whole  weight  of  my  thoughts  to  pipe-sticks.  There, 
in  a  corner,  I  sat  all  day  calculating  what  number  of  pipes  I 
might  acquire  for  my  tomauns,  and  what  would  be  my  profit 
when  sold  at  Constantinople;  and  when  my  imagination  was 
heated  by  the  hopes  of  the  ultimate  fortune  that  might  be 
realized,  I  gave  myself  up  to  the  most  extravagant  expecta- 
tions. The  plan  of  the  merchant,  whom  Saadi  relates  he  met 
in  the  island  of  Kish,  was  trifling  when  compai'ed  to  the  one 
which  I  formed,  "  With  the  produce  of  my  pipe-sticks,"  said  I, 
"I  will  buy  figs  at  Smyrna,  which  I  will  take  to  Europe,  and 
having  made  great  profit  by  them  there,  my  money  shall  then 
be  invested  in  skull-caps,  which  I  will  carry  to  Grand  Cairo  ; 
these  being  sold  in  detail,  for  ready  cash,  I  will  carefully  pack 
my  money  in  sacks,  and  proceed  to  Ethiopia,  where  I  will  pur- 
chase slaves,  each  of  whom  I  will  sell  for  great  profit  at  Moccha, 
and  thence  I  will  make  the  pilgrimage  to  the  tomb  of  the  Pro- 
phet, From  Moccha  I  will  transport  coffee  to  Persia,  which 
will  fetch  an  amazing  price ;  and  then  I  will  repose  in  my 
native  city,  until  I  can  purchase  a  high  situation  at  court, 
which  may  in  time  lead  me  to  become  the  grand  vizier  to  the 
King  of  Kings." 

Having  thus  disposed  of  the  -future  in  my  favor,  I  set  myself 
actively  to  work  in  laying  in  my  merchandise.  According  to 
the  most  approved  method,  I  made  a  bargain  with  a  wood-cutter, 
who  was  to  proceed  to  the  mountains  of  Lour  and  Bakhtiri, 
where  he  would  find  forests  of  the  wild  cherry-tree,  from  which 
he  would  make  his  selections,  according  to  the  sizes  with  which 
I  should  furnish  him.  He  was  then  to  return  to  Bagdad,  where 
the  sticks  would  be  bored,  and  made  up  into  appropriate  parcels 
for  the  markets  of  Turkey. 

All  this  was  duly  executed ;  but  during  the  time  that  I  was 
waiting  for  the  return  of  the  wood-cutter,  I  was  attacked  by  a 
disorder,  from  which  few  residents,  as  well  as  strangers,  at 
Bagdad  are  exempt,  which,  terminating  by  a  large  pimple,  as  it 


348  THE   ADVENTURES   OE   HAJJI   BABA. 

dries  up,  leaves  an  indelible  mark  on  the  skin.  To  my  great 
mortification,  it  broke  out  upon  the  middle  of  my  right  cheek, 
immediately  upon  the  confines  of  the  beard,  and  there  left  its 
baleful  print,  destroying  some  of  the  most  favorite  of  my  hairs, 
and  making  that  appear  a  broken  and  irregular  waste,  which 
before  might  be  likened  to  a  highly  cultivated  slope. 

I  bore  this  calamity  as  well  as  I  was  able,  although  I  could 
not  help  frequently  quarreling  with  fate,  for  having  chosen  so 
conspicuous  a  spot  to  place  that  which  might  have  been  so  con- 
veniently settled  any  where  else. 

"So  be  it,"  said  I,  heaving  a  sigh  at  the  same  time;  "the 
wise  man  said  true  when  he  remarked,  '  if  every  stone  was  left 
to  choose  what  it  would  be,  most  probably  it  would  be  a  dia- 
mond;' and  if  every  man  might  choose  whereabouts  he  would 
have  his  pimple,  there  would  be  no  ugly  faces  in  Bagdad." 

However,  by  way  of  consolation,  I  recollected  that  Osman 
Aga's  face  was  the  mirror  of  deformity,  although  his  pim- 
ple had  budded  elsewhere.  He,  instead  of  condoling  with  me 
on  my  misfortune,  rather  seemed  to  enjoy  it. 

"Hajji,"  said  he  to  me,  "if  you  are  not  afflicted  with  any 
greater  calamity  than  this  in  life,  look  upon  it  as  a  blessing : 
although  one  side  of  your  face  be  deformed,  still  the  other  is 
perfect.  The  turquoise  is  the  perfection  of  color  on  one  side, 
but  is  black  and  dirty  on  the  other;  still  it  is  a  turquoise,  and  a 
precious  stone." 

"  Ah,"  said  I  to  myself,  "the  ugly  man  cannot  endure  the 
sight  of  the  handsome,  no  more  than  the  vicious  can  the  virtuous  : 
in  the  same  manner  as  the  curs  of  the  market  howl  at  a  hunting- 
dog,  but  dare  not  approach  him." 

Notwithstanding  the  deformity  of  my  cheek,  I  found  as  I 
continued  to  be  an  inmate  in  the  house  of  my  old  master,  that  I 
had  made  no  small  impression  upon  the  heart  of  his  daughter, 
the  fair  Dilaram,  who,  by  a  thousand  little  arts,  did  not  fail  to 
make  me  acquainted  with  the  state  of  her  affections.  Her  mother 
and  she  were  both  experienced  in  the  mode  of  curing  the  Bag- 
dad disorder,  and  they  undertook  to  superintend  mine.  My 
pimple  and  Dilaram's  love  appear  to -have  risen  at  about  the 
same  time  ;  their  progress  was  mutual,  and  by  the  time  that  the 
former  had  risen  to  its  full  height,  the  latter  had  become  quite 
inconvenient. 

I,  'tis  true,  had  not  caught  the  infection  ;  for  my  charmer  was 
the  very  image  of  her  father,  whose  face  and  that  of  an  old 
camel's  were  so  entirely  identified  in  my  mind,  that  I  never 
could  lose  that  ugly  association  of  ideas  when  I  gazed  upon  her. 
It  was  therefore  a  considerable  relief  to  me  when  the  season  for 


BECOMES   A   MERCHANT.  349 

traveling  approached,  and  when  the  caravan  for  Constantinople 
was  about  to  assemble.  My  pipe-sticks  were  collected  and 
packed  into  their  proper  bundles,  my  accounts  with  my  creditors 
regularly  discharged,  my  wardrobe  complete,  and  I  was  all 
delight  when  it  was  announced,  that  at  the  very  next  favorable 
conjunction  of  the  planets,  the  caravan  was  to  take  its  depar- 
ture. But  as  for  poor  Dilaram,  she  hovered  about  my  cheek 
with  looks  of  despair ;  and  as  fast  as  the  swelling  subsided,  she 
appeared  to  lose  the  only  tie  which  kept  her  united  to  this  world 
and  its  vanities. 


CHAPTER  LXYI. 

BECOMES    A    MERCHANT. 

It  was  a  fine  spring  morning  when  the  caravan  took  its  depar- 
ture from  the  Constantinople  gate  of  the  city. 

Mounted  on  the  top  of  one  of  my  loads,  with  my  bed  tied  on 
the  pad  by  way  of  a  soft  seat,  and  my  bags  surrounding  me,  I 
contemplated  the  scene  with  pleasure,  listened  to  the  bells  of  the 
mules  as  I  would  to  music,  and  surveyed  myself  as  a  merchant 
of  no  small  consequence. 

My  more  immediate  companions  were  Osman  Aga,  and  his 
associate  in  lamb-skins,  (he  of  whom  I  have  already  made  honor- 
able mention  at  the  entertainment,)  and  one  or  two  other  Bagdad 
merchants ;  but  besides,  there  were  many  of  my  own  countrymen, 
natives  of  different  cities  of  Persia,  all  bound  upon  purposes 
of  trade  to  Constantinople,  and  with  whom  I  was  more  or  less 
acquainted.  My  adventure  with  the  chief  priest  of  Tehran  had 
in  great  measure  blown  over  ;  and  indeed  the  dress  I  had  adopted, 
with  the  scar  on  my  cheek,  made  me  look  so  entirely  like  a 
native  of  Bagdad,  that  I  retained  little  in  my  appearance  to 
remind  the  world  that  I  was  in  fact  a  Persian. 

I  will  not  tire  the  reader  with  a  recital  of  our  adventures 
through  Turkey,  which  consisted  of  the  usual  fear  of  robbers, 
squabbles  with  muleteers,  and  frays  at  caravanserais.  It  will  be 
sufficient  to  say,  that  we  reached  our  destination  in  safety  ;  but 
I  cannot  omit  the  expression  of  my  first  emotions  upon  seeing 
Constantinople. 

I,  a  Persian,  and  an  Ispahani,  had  ever  been  accustomed  to 
hold  my  native  city  as  the  first  in  the  world  :  never  had  it 
crossed  my  mind  that  any  other  could,  in  the  smallest  degree 
30 


350  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

enter  into  competition  with  it,  and  when  the  capital  of  Roum 
was  described  to  me  as  finer,  I  always  laughed  the  describer 
to  scorn.  But  what  was  my  astonishment,  and  I  may  add  mor- 
tification, on  beholding,  for  the  first  time,  this  magnificent  city. 
I  had  always  looked  upon  the  royal  mosque,  in  the  great  square 
at  Ispahan,  as  the  most  superb  building  in  the  world ;  but  here 
were  a  hundred  finer,  each  surpassing  the  other  in  beauty  and 
in  splendor.  Nothing,  did  I  ever  conceive,  could  equal  the 
extent  of  my  native  place ;  but  here  my  eyes  became  tired  with 
wandering  over  the  numerous  hills  and  creeks  thickly  covered 
with  buildings,  which  seemed  to  bid  defiance  to  calculation.  If 
Ispahan  was  half  the  world,  this  indeed  was  the  whole.  And 
then  this  gem  of  cities  possesses  this  great  advantage  over  Is- 
pahan, that  it  is  situated  on  the  borders  of  a  beautiful  succes- 
sion of  waters,  instead  of  being  surrounded  by  arid  and  craggy 
mountains ;  and  in  addition  to  its  own  extent  and  beauty,  en- 
joys the  advantage  of  being  reflected  in  one  never-failing  mir- 
ror, ever  at  hand  to  multiply  them.  But  where  should  I  stop, 
if  I  attempted  to  describe  the  numerous  moving  objects  which 
attracted  my  attention  ?  Thousands  of  boats,  of  all  forms  and 
sizes,  skimmed  along  in  every  direction,  whilst  the  larger  ves- 
sels, whose  masts  looked  like  forests,  more  numerous  than  those 
of  Mazansluan,  lined  the  shores  of  the  intricate  and  widely  ex- 
tended harbor. 

"  Oh,  this  is  a  paradise,"  said  I  to  those  around  me  ;  "and 
may  I  never  leave  it !"  But  when  I  recollected  in  whose  hands  it 
was,  possessed  by  a  race  of  the  most  accursed  of  heretics,  whose 
beards  were  not  fit  to  be  brooms  to  our  dust-holes,  then  I 
thought  myself  too  condescending  in  allowing  them  to  possess 
me  amongst  them.  One  consolation,  however,  I  did  not  fail  to 
derive  from  reflection,  which  was,  that  if  they  were  allowed  the 
possession  of  so  choice  a  spot  for  their  use  in  this  world,  they 
would  doubly  feel  the  horror  of  that  which  was  doubtless  pre- 
paring for  them  in  the  next. 

After  undergoing  the  necessary  forms  of  examinations  at  the 
custom-house,  I  and  my  companions  took  boat  at  Scutari, 
crossed  over  to  Constantinople,  and  established  ourselves  and 
merchandise  in  a  large  caravanserai,  the  resort  of  Persian 
traders,  situated  in  a  very  central  part  of  the  city,  near  the 
principal  bazaars.  I  felt  myself  a  slender  personage  indeed, 
when  I  considered  that  I  was  only  one  among  the  crowd  of 
the  immense  population  that  was  continually  floating  through 
the  great  thoroughfares.  And  when  I  saw  the  riches  displayed 
in  the  shops,  the  magnificence  of  dress  of  almost  every  inhabit- 
ant, and  the  constant  succession  of  great  lords  and  agas,  riding 


BECOMES   A   MERCHANT.  351 

abont  ou  the  finest  and  most  richly  caparisoned  horses,  I  conld 
not  help  exclaiming,  in  a  secret  whisper  to  myself,  where  is 
Constantinople  and  her  splendors,  and  where  Persia  and  her 
poverty ! 

I,  in  conjunction  with  old  Osraan,  hired  a  room  in  the  cara- 
vanserai, in  which  we  deposited  our  merchandise.  During  the 
day  time  I  displayed  my  pipe  sticks  in  goodly  rows  on  a  plat- 
form ;  and  as  my  assortments  were  good,  I  began  my  sales 
with  great  vigor,  and  reaped  considerable  profit.  In  propor- 
tion as  I  found  money  returning  to  my  purse,  so  did  I  launch 
out  into  luxuries  which  I  little  heeded  before.  I  increased  the 
beauty  and  conveniences  of  my  dress ;  I  bought  a  handsome 
amber-headed  chibouk  ;  I  girded  my  waist  with  a  lively  colored 
shawl ;  my  tobacco  pouch  was  made  of  silk,  covered  with 
spangles  ;  my  slippers  were  of  bright  yellow,  and  I  treated  myself 
to  a  glittering  dagger.  Temptations  to  expense  surrounded  me 
everywhere,  and  1  began  to  think  that  there  was  something 
worth  living  for  in  this  world.  So  numerous  were  the  places 
in  which  I  might  exhibit  my  person  in  public,  that  I  could  not 
refrain  from  visiting  the  most  frequented  cofi"ee-houses,  where, 
mounted  on  a  high  bench,  with  soft  cushions  to  recline  upon,  I 
Bmoked  my  pipe  and  sipped  my  colfee  like  one  of  the  highest 
degree. 

Implicated  as  I  had  been  in  disagreeable  adventures  in  Persia, 
I  was  mistrustful  of  my  own  countrymen,  and  rather  shunned 
them,  whilst  I  sought  the  acquaintance  of  the  Turks.  But 
they,  my  countrymen,  who  are  always  so  inquisitive,  and  who 
feel  themselves  slighted  upon  the  least  inattention,  they  dis- 
covered who  and  what  I  was,  and  eyed  me  with  no  great  feel- 
ings of  approbation.  However,  I  endeavored  to  live  upon 
good  terms  with  them  ;  and  as  long  as  we  did  not  enter  into 
competition  in  matters  of  trade,  they  left  me  unmolested. 

In  places  of  public  resort  I  gave  myself  out  for  a  rich  Bag- 
dad merchant ;  and  now  my  scar,  which  I  had  before  esteemed 
a  great  misfortune,  was  conveniently  conspicuous  to  attest  the 
truth  of  my  assertions.  Nothing,  I  found,  was  so  easy  as  to 
deceive  the  Turks  by  outward  appearance.  Their  taciturnity, 
the  dignity  and  composure  of  their  manner  and  deportment, 
their  slow  walk,  their  set  phrases,  were  all  so  easy  to  acquire, 
that  in  the  course  of  a  very  short  time  I  managed  to  imitate 
them  so  well,  that  I  could  at  pleasure  make  myself  one  of  the 
dullest  and  most  solemn  of  their  species.  So  perfect  a  hearer 
had  I  become,  so  well  did  I  sigh  out,  every  now  and  then,  in 
soft  accents,  my  sacred  ejaculations  of  "Allah!  and  there  is 
but  one  Allah  I"  and  so  steady  was  I  in  counting  my  beads,  that 


352  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA, 

I  was  received  at  the  coffee-house,  which  I  frequented,  with 
distinguished  attention.  The  owner  of  it  himself  made  my 
coffee,  and  as  he  poured  it  out  with  a  flourish  of  his  arm,  he 
never  failed  to  welcome  me  by  the  friendly  epithets  of  "  my 
Aga,  my  Sultan  !"  Such  influence  had  the  respectability  of 
my  appearance  secured  for  me,  that  in  every  trifling  dispute 
which  might  take  place  in  the  coffee-room,  either  upon  the  sub- 
ject of  horses,  dogs,  arms,  or  tobacco,  (the  principal  topics  of 
conversation,)  I  was  ever  referred  to,  and  any  low  growl  from 
my  lips,  of  either  belli,  (yes,)  or  yok,  (no,)  was  sure  to  set  the 
matter  at  rest. 


CHAPTER  LXYII. 

A    NEW    CONQUEST. 

I  HAD  lived  in  this  manner  for  some  time,  when  for  three 
successive  evenings,  towards  the  dusk,  returning  from  my 
coffee-house,  I  remarked  an  old  woman  standing  at  the  corner 
of  a  small  street  that  nearly  faced  it.  She  always  gazed  in- 
tensely at  me,  seemed  desirous  to  speak,  looked  up  every  now 
and  then  at  the  latticed  windows  of  the  house,  at  the  foot  of 
which  she  had  taken  post,  and  then  allowed  me  to  pass  on. 

The  first  time  I  scarcely  took  notice  of  her,  an  old  woman 
standing  at  the  corner  of  a  street  being  nothing  remarkable ; 
but,  on  the  second,  I  became  surprised,  and  was  on  my  guard ; 
the  third  roused  all  my  curiosity,  and  on  the  fourth  evening  I 
determined,  if  she  appeared  again,  to  discover  what  could  be 
her  meaning. 

Accordingly  I  dressed  myself  rather  better  than  usual,  hav- 
ing taken  it  for  granted  that  my  good  looks,  added  to  the  pro- 
tection of  my  good  planet,  were  at  work  for  me ;  and  issuing 
forth  from  the  coffee-house,  I  walked  with  a  slow  and  saunter- 
ing step  towards  the  mysterious  woman.  I  was  about  accost- 
ing her,  when,  as  I  turned  the  angle  of  the  street  that  screened 
me  from  the  windows  of  the  coffee-house,  of  a  sudden  a  lattice 
of  the  house  before-mentioned  was  thrown  open,  and  an  unveiled 
female  presented  herself  to  my  sight,  whose  face  and  form  ap- 
peared to  me  of  the  most  dazzling  beauty.  A  flower  was  in 
her  hand,  which  she  first  held  out  to  my  notice,  then  placed  it 
on  her  heart,  threw  it  to  me,  and  then  shut  the  lattice  in  such 
haste,  that  the  whole  scene  was  like  an  apparition  which  had 


A   NEW   CONQUEST.  353 

shown  itself,  and  then  suddenly  disappeared.  I  stood  with  my 
mouth  open,  and  my  eyes  directed  upwards,  until  I  was  gently 
pulled  by  the  sleeve  by  the  old  woman,  who  had  picked  up  the 
flower,  and  was  presenting  it  to  me  as  I  looked  round  upon 
her. 

"  What  is  this,"  said  I,  "  in  the  name  of  the  Prophet  ?  Are 
there  Gins  and  Peris  in  this  land  ?" 

"  Are  you  such  a  novice,"  answered  the  old  woman,  "  not  to 
know  what  that  flower  means  ?  Your  beard  is  long  enough, 
you  are  not  a  child,  and  your  dress  proclaims  that  you  have 
traveled  ;  but  you  have  traveled  to  little  purpose,  if  you  know 
not  what  a  lady  means  when  she  gives  you  an  almond  flower." 

"  Oh  yes,"  said  I,  "  I  know  that  Jisiek,  almond,  rhymes  to 
yastek,  pillow ;  and  I  also  know  that  two  heads  upon  one  pillow 
have  frequently  been  compared  to  two  kernels  in  one  almond  ; 
but  my  beard  is  long  enough  to  remind  me  also,  that  such  things 
do  not  happen  without  danger,  and  that  the  heads  may  be  cut 
off,  as  well  as  the  kernels  swallowed  up." 

"  Fear  nothing,"  said  my  companion  with  great  emotion,  "  by 
the  holy  Mohamed,  we  are  clean  ones,  and  you  despise  fortune, 
if  you  reject  us.  Are  you  an  ass,  that  you  should  start  -at  a 
shadow,  for  such  are  your  fears  ?" 

"  Tell  me  then,"  said  I,  "  who  is  the  lady  I  have  just  seen,  and 
what  am  I  to  do  ?" 

"Be  not  in  such  a  hurry,"  answered  she;  "nothing  can  be 
done  to-night,  and  you  must  have  patience.  Time  and  place  are 
not  now  convenient;  but  meet  me  to-morrow  at  noon,  at  the 
cemetery  of  Eyub,  and  you  will  hear  all  that  you  wish  to  know. 
I  shall  be  seated  at  the  foot  of  the  tomb  of  the  first  emir  on 
your  right  hand,  and  you  will  recognize  me  from  any  other 
woman  by  a  red  shawl,  thrown  over  my  left  shoulder.  Go,  and 
Allah  go  with  you  !" 

Upon  this  we  parted,  and  I  returned  to  my  room  in  the  car- 
avanserai to  ruminate  over  what  had  happened.  I  did  not  doubt 
that  something  good  was  in  store  for  me  ;  but  I  had  heard  ter- 
rible accounts  of  the  jealousy  of  Turkish  husbands,  and  could 
not  help  imagining  that  I  might  fall  a  victim  to  the  fury  of  some 
much  injured  man.  Zeenab  and  her  tower,  Mariam  and  her 
Yusuf,  Dilaram  and  her  pimple,  all  the  instances  of  unfortunate 
lovers,  came  across  my  mind  in  succession,  and  damped  any  de- 
sire that  I  might  at  first  have  felt  in  prosecuting  this  adventure. 
However,  my  blood  was  yet  young  and  warm  enough  to 
carry  me  forwards,  and  1  determined,  though  reluctantly,  to 
proceed. 

On  the  noon  of  the  ensuing  day  I  faithfully  kept  my  engage- 
30* 


354  THE    ADVENTURES    OF    HAJJI   BABA. 

ment,  looked  for  the  first  green-turbaned  tomb,  which  I  duly 
found  on  my  right  hand,  where  I  discovered  the  old  woman 
with  her  red  shawl  over  her  left  shoulder.  We  retired  from  the 
road-side,  and  retreated  to  the  shade  of  some  of  the  loftiest  cy- 
press trees  in  the  burial  ground  ;  where,  seated  on  the  ground, 
with  the  magnificent  view  of  the  harbor  of  Constantinople  before 
us,  we  calmly  entered  upon  the  subject  of  our  conference. 

She  first  complimented  me  upon  my  punctuality,  and  then 
again  assured  me,  that  I  had  nothing  to  fear  from  what  she  was 
about  to  propose.  She  had  all  the  garrulity  of  her  age,  and 
spoke  for  some  time  but  to  little  purpose,  making  professions  of 
her  attachment,  and  of  her  desire  to  serve  me ;  all  of  which  I 
foresaw  would  ultimately  diminish  the  profits  of  my  pipe-sticks, 
and  I  therefore  stopped  her  progress,  and  requested  her  at 
once  to  let  me  know  the  history  of  the  fair  lady  at  the 
window. 

Divesting  her  narrative  of  all  her  repetitions  and  circumlocu- 
tions, she  spoke  nearly  to  the  following  effect: 

"  The  lady  whom  you  saw,  and  whose  servant  I  am,  is  the 
only  daughter  of  a  rich  Aleppo  merchant,  who,  besides  her,  had 
two  sons.  The  father  died  not  long  ago,  and  was  succeeded  in 
his  business  by  his  sons,  who  are  now  wealthy  merchants,  and 
reside  in  this  city.  My  mistress,  whose  name  is  Shekerleb,  or 
Sugar-lips,  was  married  when  very  young  to  an  old,  but  rich 
Emir,  who  scrupulously  refrained  from  having  more  than  one 
wife  at  a  time,  because  from  experience  he  knew  that  he  could 
have  no  peace  at  home  if  he  took  advantage  of  the  permissions 
of  his  law  in  multiplying  to  himself  his  female  companions.  He 
was  very  fond  of  domestic  quiet,  and  therefore  hoped,  by  taking 
one  so  young,  he  might  be  able  to  mould  her  to  his  wishes,  and 
that  she  would  never  thwart  him  in  his  inclinations.  In  that 
be  was  fortunate,  for  a  more  gentle  and  docile  creature  than  my 
mistress  does  not  exist.  There  was  only  one  point  upon  which 
they  could  never  agree,  which  proved  indeed  one  of  the  causes 
of  the  Emir's  death,  which  happened  soon  after.  She  liked 
tarts  made  with  cream,  and  he  preferred  his  with  cheese.  On 
this  subject  regularly  for  five  years,  they  daily  at  breakfast  had 
a  dispute,  until,  about  six  months  ago,  the  old  man,  having  eat 
over  much  of  his  favorite  cheese-tarts,  had  an  indigestion  and 
died.  He  bequeathed  one-fourth  of  his  wealth,  the  house 
which  you  saw,  his  furniture,  his  slaves,  in  short,  all  that  he 
could  leave  according  to  the  Mohamedan  law  to  the  fair  She- 
kerleb, now  his  disconsolate  widow.  With  the  advantages  of 
youth,  beauty,  and  riches,  you  may  be  certain  that  she  has  not 
lived  without  admirers ;  but  she  has  wisdom  and  discretion 


A   NEW    CONQUEST.  355 

beyond  most  young  women  of  her  age,  and  hitherto  has  resisted 
forming  any  new  tie,  resolving  to  wait  until  some  good  oppor- 
tunity to  marry  one  whom  she  might  really  love,  and  who  would 
neither  be  swayed  by  interest  nor  ambition. 

"  Living  opposite  to  one  of  the  most  fashionable  coffee- 
houses in  the  city,  she  has  had  an  opportunity  of  watching  those 
who  frequent  it ;  and  without  a  compliment,  I  need  not  say 
that  she  soon  distinguished  you  as  the  handsomest  amongst 
them,  and,  indeed,  as  the  man  most  to  her  fancy  whom  she  had 
ever  seen.  My  brother,"  said  the  old  woman,  "is  the  owner 
of  the  coffee-house,  and  as  the  opportunities  of  seeing  him  are 
frequent,  I  requested  him  to  inquire  who  you  were  ;  and  to  let 
me  know  what  sort  of  a  character  you  bore.  His  report  was 
such  as  highly  pleased  my  mistress ;  and  we  resolved  to  en- 
deavor to  make  you  notice  us,  and  if  possible  to  get  acquainted 
with  you.  You  best  know  how  we  have  succeeded,  and  now 
will  be  able  to  judge  whether  I  have  rendered  you  a  service  or 
not." 

Little  did  I  expect  to  hear  such  a  result  when  first  the  old 
woman  began  her  tale.  I  now  felt  like  one  who  had  received 
his  reprieve  after  condemnation.  Instead  of  the  mysteries, 
disguises,  scaling  of  walls  and  windows,  drawu  sciraetars,  and 
bloody  wounds,  attendant  on  a  Turkish  intrigue,  I  saw  nothing 
before  me  but  riches,  ease,  and  repose  from  all  future  care.  I 
blessed  my  star ;  in  short,  I  held  my  fortune  to  be  made.  I 
was  so  transported  at  what  I  heard,  that  I  made  use  of  a  thou- 
sand incoherent  expressions  to  my  companion  ;  I  protested  and 
vowed  eternal  love  to  her  mistress,  and  promised  the  most 
liberal  remuneration  to  herself. 

"But  there  is  one  circumstance,"  said  she,  "  which  my  mis- 
tress has  ordered  me  to  ascertain  before  she  can  receive  you  ; 
which  is,  the  respectability  of  your  family  and  the  extent  of 
your  fortune.  You  must  know  that  her  brothers  and  relations 
are  very  proud  ;  and  if  she  were  to  make  an  unworthy  alliance, 
they  would  treat  her  with  the  greatest  harshness,  and  not  fail 
to  ill-treat,  if  not  to  make  away  with  her  husband." 

Although  I  was  not  prepared  for  this,  yet  such  was  the 
quickness  with  which  I  had  seized  the  whole  extent  of  the  good 
fortune  awaiting  me,  that  with  the  same  quickness  I,  without 
hesitation,  said,  "Family?  Family,  did  you  say?  Who  is 
there  that  does  not  know  Ilajji  Baba  ?  Let  him  inquire  from 
the  confines  of  Yemen  to  those  of  Irak,  and  from  the  seas  of 
Hind  to  the  shores  of  the  Caspian,  and  his  name  will  be  well 
known." 

"Bat  who  was  your  father  ?"  said  the  old  woman. 


356  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

"  My  father  ?"  said  I,  after  a  pause ;  "he  was  a  man  of  great 
power.  More  heads  came  nnder  his  thnmb,  and  he  took  more 
men  with  impunity  by  the  beard,  than  even  the  chief  of  the 
Wahabi  himself." 

I  had  now  gained  snfiBcient  time  to  arrange  a  little  off-hand 
genealogy  for  myself;  and  as  the  old  woman's  countenance  ex- 
panded at  what  I  had  said,  I  continued  to  speak  to  her  after 
this  manner  : 

"  If  your  mistress  wants  high  blood,  then  let  her  look  to  me. 
Be  assured,  that  she  and  her  brothers,  be  they  who  they  may, 
will  never  exceed  me  in  descent.  Arab  blood  flows  in  ray  veins, 
and  that  of  the  purest  kind.  My  ancestor  was  a  Mansouri 
Arab,  from  the  province  of  Nejd  in  Arabia  Felix,  who  with 
the  whole  of  his  tribe  was  established  by  Shah  Ismael  of  Persia 
in  some  of  the  finest  pastures  of  Irak,  and  where  they  have 
lived  ever  since.  My  great  ancestor  Katir,  hen  Khiir,  hen  Asp, 
hen  Al  Madian,  was  of  the  tribe  of  Koreish,  and  that  brought 
him  in  direct  relationship  with  the  family  of  our  blessed  Pro- 
phet, from  whom  all  the  best  blood  of  Islam  flows." 

"  Allah,  Allah  !"  exclaimed  the  old  woman,  "  enough,  enough. 
If  you  are  all  this,  my  mistress  wants  no  more.  And  if  your 
riches  are  equal  to  your  birth,  we  shall  be  entirely  satisfied." 

"  As  for  my  riches,"  said  I,  "I  cannot  boast  of  much  cash  ; 
but  what  merchant  ever  has  cash  at  command  ?  You  mnst 
know  as  well  as  myself,  that  it  is  always  laid  out  in  merchan- 
dise, which  is  dispersed  over  different  parts  of  the  world,  and 
which  in  due  time  returns  back  to  him  with  increase.  My  Per- 
sian silks  and  velvets  are  now  traveling  into  Khorassan,  and 
will  bring  me  back  the  lamb-skins  of  Bokhara.  My  agents, 
provided  with  gold  and  otter  skins,  are  ready  at  Meshed  to  buy 
the  shawls  of  Cashmire,  and  the  precious  stones  of  India.  At 
Astracan,  ray  cotton  stuffs  are  to  be  bartered  against  sables, 
cloth,  and  glass  ware  ;  and  the  Indian  goods  which  I  buy  at 
Bassorah  and  send  to  Aleppo  are  to  return  to  me  in  the  shape 
of  skull-caps  and  shalli  stuffs.  In  short,  to  say  precisely  what 
I  am  worth,  would  be  as  difficult  as  to  count  the  ears  in  a  field 
of  wheat ;  but  you  may  safely  tell  your  mistress  that  the  man 
of  her  choice,  whenever  he  gathers  his  wealth  together,  will 
astonish  her  and  her  family  by  its  extent." 

"  Praise  be  to  Allah  I"  said  the  confidant,  "  all  is  now  as  it 
should  be,  and  it  only  remains  to  make  you  acquainted  with 
each  other.  You  must  not  fail  to  be  at  the  corner  of  the  street 
at  night-fall,  when  with  all  the  necessary  precautions  you  will 
be  introduced  to  the  divine  Shekerleb  ;  and  if  she  approves  of 
you,  nothing  will  interpose  to  defer  your  marriage  and  your 


THE  MARRIAGE   OF   HAJJI    BABA.  357 

happiness.  There  is  only  one  piece  of  advice  which  I  hare  to 
give ;  that  is,  be  sure  to  like  cream  tarts,  and  to  disapprove  of 
cheese  ones.  Upon  every  other  topic  she  is  liberal  and  without 
prejudice.     May  Allah  keep  you  in  peace  and  safety  I" 

So  saying,  she  drew  up  the  lower  part  of  her  veil  over  her 
mouth ;  and  receiving  two  pieces  of  gold  without  a  struggle, 
which  I  put  into  her  hand,  she  walked  away,  and  left  me  again 
to  my  meditations. 


CHAPTER  LXVIII. 

THE    MARRIAGE    OF    HAJJI    BABA. 

I  DID  not  long  remain  at  the  foot  of  the  tree,  for  I  felt  that 
much  was  to  be  done  before  the  time  of  assignation.  It  would 
be  necessary  to  put  on  an  appearance  of  wealth,  to  have  a  purse 
well  furnished,  and  a  dress  suited  to  my  character ;  and  more- 
over, it  quite  behoved  me  to  make  my  person  as  acceptable  as 
possible  by  going  to  the  bath,  and  using  all  the  requisite  per- 
fumes. Frequently  as  I  walked  along  did  I  apostrophise  my- 
self in  terms  of  the  highest  approbation.  "  Ahi  Hajji,  friend 
Hajji,"  would  I  exclaim,  "by  the  beard  of  your  fatber,  and  by 
your  own  soul,  for  this  once  you  have  shown  the  difference  be- 
tween a  fool  and  a  sage.  Well  done,  thou  descendant  from  the 
Mansouris !  thou  scion  of  the  root  of  Koreish !" 

Deeply  pondering  over  my  future  destinies,  at  length  I 
reached  ray  caravanserai.  I  saw  old  Osraan  seated  in  one 
corner  of  our  apartment,  calculating  the  profits  of  his  merchan- 
dise, and  in  the  other  I  observed  my  bundles  of  pipe-sticks. 
Tlie  contrast  which  these  ignoble  objects  formed  to  the  great 
schemes  then  planning  in  my  mind  struck  me  so  forcibly,  that 
it  affected  my  ordinary  deportment,  and  gave  a  certain  tone  of 
superiority  to  my  manner  which  I  had  never  before  felt.  I 
know  not  whether  it  was  noticed  by  Osraan  ;  but  he  seemed 
rather  startled  when  I  asked  him  immediately  to  advance  me 
fifty  gold  pieces,  for  which  I  offered  to  deliver  over  my  mer- 
chandise as  security. 

"  My  son,"  said  he,  "  what  news  is  this  ?  what  can  you  want 
with  so  much  money,  and  in  such  haste  ?  Are  you  mad,  or 
are  you  become  a  gambler  ?" 

"  God  forgive  me,"  answered  I,  "I  am  neither  a  madman 
nor  a  gambler.     My  brain  is  in  good  order,  and  the  world  has 


358  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJl  BABA. 

taken  me  into  favor ;  but  give  me  the  money,  and  you  will  hear 
the  rest  hereafter." 

He  did  not  longer  hesitate  to  accede  to  my  wishes,  for  he 
well  knew  the  value  of  my  goods,  and  that  the  transaction 
could  not  fail  to  be  safe  and  profitable.  So  without  further 
hesitation  he  counted  out  the  money,  and  I  forthwith  left  him. 

I  immediately  bought  some  very  handsome  additions  to  my 
wardrobe,  and  proceeded  without  delay  to  the  bath,  where  I 
went  through  all  the  necessary  lustrations,  and  attired  myself 
like  a  man  of  the  highest  fashion. 

By  the  time  that  my  new  arrangements  were  complete,  the 
hour  of  assignation  had  arrived,  and  with  a  beating  heart  I 
proceeded  to  the  place  appointed. 

I  found  the  old  woman  waiting,  and  having  looked  well 
round  to  see  that  nobody  remarked  us,  she  introduced  me  into 
the  house  through  a  door  situated  in  a  remote  corner. 

I  was  charmed  at  the  great  ease  and  comfort  which  appeared 
to  exist  throughout  the  whole  establishment ;  for  I  now  looked 
upon  myself  as  lord  and  master  of  all  I  saw.  We  had  entered 
at  once  into  the  apartments  kept  sacred  for  the  use  of  the  wo- 
men, because  it  seems  that  the  principal  entrance  of  the  house 
had  been  but  little  used  since  the  emir's  death,  out  of  reverence 
to  his  memory  ;  and  the  same  sort  of  mystery  and  precaution 
in  entering  here  was  kept  up  as  if  the  good  man  was  still  in 
existence.  Having  passed  through  the  small  street-door,  we 
entered  into  a  court  yard,  in  which  was  a  fountain.  We  then 
ascended  a  wooden  flight  of  steps,  at  the  top  of  which  we  found 
a  cloth  cnrtaia,  composed  of  various  colors,  which  being  lifted 
up,  I  was  introduced  to  an  ante-room,  the  only  furniture  of 
which  consisted  of  women's  slippers  and  a  lamp.  Four  doors, 
which  were  now  closed,  opened  upon  this,  and  here  I  was  left 
to  myself,  whilst  my  old  conductress  shuffled  off  to  prepare  her 
mistress  for  my  reception.  I  heard  voices  in  the  different  apart- 
ments, the  owners  of  which  I  presumed  belonged  to  the  slip- 
pers :  and  imagined  that  many  eyes  were  directed  at  me,  for  I 
could  distinguish  them  through  the  crannies.  At  length  the 
door  of  the  furthest  angle  was  opened,  and  I  was  beckoned  to 
approach. 

My  heart  beat  within  me  as  I  stept  forwards,  and  covering 
myself  close  with  the  flaps  of  my  cloak,  in  order  to  show  my 
respect,  I  entered  a  room  that  was  lighted  up  by  only  one 
lamp,  which  shed  a  soft  and  dubious  light  over  the  objects 
within  it. 

It  was  surrounded  by  a  divan,  covered  with  the  richest  light 
blue  satins  fringed  with  gold^  in  one  angle  of  which,  near  the 


THE    MARRIAGE  OF    HAJJI   BAB  A,  359 

window,  was  seated  the  oT3Ject  of  all  my  desires.  She  was  care- 
fully veiled  from  head  to  foot,  and  all  I  could  then  distinguish 
of  her  person  was  a  pair  of  brilliant  black  eyes,  that  seemed  to 
delight  in  the  anxious  curiosity  which  they  had  roused  in  my 
features. 

She  pointed  to  me  with  her  hand  to  be  seated  ;  but  this  I  ob- 
stinately refused,  so  anxious  was  I  to  show  the  depth  of  my  re- 
spect and  gratitude.  At  length,  when  further  resistance  was 
useless,  I  took  off  my  slippers,  and  seated  myself  with  a  corner 
of  my  hip  just  resting  upon  the  edge  of  the  sofa,  keeping  my 
hands  covered  with  the  sleeves  of  my  garment,  and  afTecting  a 
coyness  and  a  backwardness,  at  which,  now  that  I  recollect 
myself,  I  cannot  help  laughing. 

After  we  had  sat  facing  each  other  for  some  few  minutes, 
little,  except  common-place  compliments,  having  passed,  my 
fair  mistress  ordered  the  old  Ayesha  (for  that  was  the  name  of 
my  conductress)  to  leave  the  room,  and  then  leaning  forwards, 
as  if  to  take  up  her  fan  of  peacock's  feathers,  which  was  on  the 
cushion,  she  permitted  her  veil  to  fall,  and  exhibited  to  my  im- 
patient eyes  the  most  beautiful  face  that  nature  had  ever 
formed. 

This  was  the  signal  for  laying  by  all  reserve,  and  I  prostrated 
myself  before  this  divinity  with  all  the  adoration  of  a  profound 
devotee,  and  poured  out  such  a  rhapsody  of  love  and  admiration, 
as  to  leave  no  doubt  in  her  mind  of  the  tenderness  of  my  heart, 
the  acuteness  of  my  wit,  and  the  excellence  of  my  taste.  In 
short,  the  emir's  widow  had  every  reason  to  be  satisfied  with 
the  choice  she  had  made ;  and  she  very  soon  showed  the  confi- 
dence which  she  intended  to  place  in  me,  by  making  me  at  once 
the  depository  of  her  secrets. 

"  I  am  in  a  difficult  situation,"  said  she,  "and  the  evil  eye 
which  many  cast  upon  me  hath  embittered  my  soul.  You  may 
conceive,  that  owing  to  the  wealth  with  which  I  have  been  en- 
dowed by  my  late  husband,  (upon  whom  be  eternal  blessings!) 
and  to  my  own  dower  besides,  which  was  considerable,  I  have 
been  tormented  by  many  persecutions,  and  they  have  almost 
driven  me  mad.  My  relations  all  claim  a  right  to  me,  as  if  I 
were  part  of  the  family  estate.  My  brothers  have  their  own 
interest  in  view  when  they  would  negotiate  a  husband  for  me, 
as  if  they  would  barter  a  sack  of  wool  against  bags  of  x'ice.  A 
nephew  of  my  husband,  a  man  of  the  law,  pretends  to  claim  an 
old  custom,  by  which,  when  a  man  died,  one  of  his  relations  had 
a  right  to  his  widow,  which  he  might  assert  by  throwing  his 
cloak  over  her.  Another  relation  again  pretends,  that  accord- 
ing to  the  law,  I  am  not  entitled  to  the  whole  of  what  I  now 


360  THE  ADVENTURES  OP  HAJJI  BABA. 

possess,  and  threatens  to  dispute  it.  In  short,  so  sadly  perplexed 
have  I  been  under  these  circumstances,  that  I  only  saw  one 
way  to  set  the  matter  at  rest,  which  was  to  marry  again.  Fate 
has  thrown  you  in  my  way,  and  I  am  no  longer  at  a  loss. 

She  then  informed  me  of  the  arrangements  she  had  made  for 
our  immediate  union,  in  case  I  was  not  averse  to  it,  and  re- 
ferred me  to  a  man  of  the  law,  whom  she  had  secured  to  act  in 
her  behalf,  who  would  make  out  all  the  proper  papers,  and 
whom  she  informed  me  was  now  in  the  house  ready  to  officiate. 

I  was  not  prepared  for  quite  so  much  despatch,  and  felt  my 
heart  misgive  me,  as  if  it  were  hovering  between  heaven  and 
earth  ;  but  I  did  not  hesitate  to  reiterate  my  protestations  of 
eternal  love  and  devotion,  and  said  nothing  to  my  intended 
but  what  seemed  to  overwhelm  her  with  delight. 

So  impatient  was  she  of  any  delay,  that  she  immediately 
ordered  the  old  Ayesha  to  conduct  me  to  the  man  of  law,  who 
was  in  attendance  in  a  small  apartment,  in  a  more  distant  part 
of  the  house.  Besides  himself  he  had  brought  another,  who, 
he  informed  me,  would  act  as  my  vakeel  or  trustee,  such  an  in- 
tervention being  necessary  on  the  part  of  the  man  as  well  as 
the  woman ;  and  then  he  exhibited  before  me  the  akdnameh  or 
marriage  deed,  in  which  he  had  already  inscribed  the  dower  of 
my  intended,  consisting  of  her  own  property,  and  demanded 
from  me  what  additions  it  was  my  intention  to  make  thereto. 

I  was  again  thrown  back  upon  my  ingenuity,  and  as  the  best 
answer  I  could  give,  repeated  what  I  had  before  said  to  Ayesha, 
namely,  that  a  merchant  was  uncertain  of  his  wealth,  which  was 
dispersed  in  trade  in  different  parts  of  the  world  ;  but  I  did 
not  hesitate  to  settle  all  that  I  possessed  upon  my  wife,  pro- 
vided such  engagement  were  mutual. 

"  That  is  very  liberal,"  replied  my  wily  scribe ;  "  but  we  re- 
quire something  more  specific.  As  for  instance,  what  do  you 
possess  here  at  Constantinople  ?  You  cannot  have  come  thus 
far,  except  for  important  purposes.  Settle  the  wealth  which 
you  can  command  upon  the  spot,  be  it  in  cash,  merchandise,  or 
houses,  and  that  will  suffice  for  the  present." 

"  Be  it  so,"  said  I,  putting  the  best  face  possible  upon  the 
demand.  "  Be  it  so — let  us  see."  Then  appearing  to  calcu- 
late within  myself  what  I  could  command,  I  boldly  said,  "  You 
may  insert  that  I  gave  twenty  purses  in  money,  and  ten  in 
clothes." 

Upon  this,  a  communication  took  place  between  the  emir's 
widow  and  her  agent,  for  the  purpose  of  informing  her  what 
were  my  proposals,  and  for  gaining  her  consent  to  them.  After 
some  little  negotiation,  the  whole  was  arranged  to  the  apparent 


INCONVENIENCE  OF  SUPPORTING  A  FALSE  CHARACTER.  361 

satisfaction  of  both  parties,  and  our  different  seals  having  been 
affixed  to  the  documents,  and  the  necessary  forms  of  speech 
having  been  pronounced  by  our  different  valieels,  the  marriage 
was  declared  lawful,  and  I  received  the  compliments  of  all  pre- 
sent. 

I  did  not  fail  to  reward  the  scribes  before  they  were  dismissed, 
and  also  to  send  a  very  liberal  donation  to  be  distributed  through- 
out the  household  of  my  fair  bride. 

Then  instead  of  returning  to  old  Osman,  and  my  pillow  of 
pipe-sticlis,  I  retired,  with  all  the  dignity  and  consequence  of 
the  gravest  Turk,  into  the  inmost  recesses  of  my  harem. 


CHAPTER  LXIX. 

INCONVENIENCE    OF    SUPPORTING    A    FALSE   CHARACTER. 

I  SOON  found  that  I  had  a  very  difficult  part  to  perform.  A 
Chinese  philosopher  is  said  to  have  remarked,  that  if  the  opera- 
tion of  eating  was  confined  to  what  takes  place  between  the 
mouth  and  the  palate,  then  nothing  could  be  more  pleasant,  and 
one  might  eat  for  ever;  but  it  is  the  stomach,  the  digestive 
organs,  and,  in  fact,  the  rest  of  the  body,  which  decide  ulti- 
mately whether  the  said  operation  has  been  prejudicial  or 
healthful.  So  it  is  in  marriage.  If  it  were  confined  to  what 
takes  place  between  man  and  wife,  nothing  more  simple  ;  but 
then  come  the  ties  of  relationship  and  the  interests  of  families, 
and  they  decide  much  upon  its  happiness  or  misery. 

My  fair  spouse  entertained  me  for  several  successive  days 
after  our  marriage  with  such  manifold  and  intricate  stories  of 
her  family,  of  their  quarrels  and  their  makings-up,  of  their 
jealousies  and  their  hatreds,  and  particularly  of  their  interested 
motives  in  their  conduct  towards  her,  that  she  made  me  feel  as 
if  I  might  have  got  into  a  nest  of  scorpions.  She  recommended 
that  we  should  use  the  greatest  circumspection  in  the  manner 
of  informing  her  brothers  of  our  marriage ;  and  remarked  that 
although  we  were  so  far  secure  in  being  lawful  man  and 
wife,  still  as  much  of  our  future  happiness  depended  upon  their 
good  will  towards  us,  (they  being  men  of  wealth,  and  conse- 
quently of  influence  in  the  city,)  we  ought  to  do  everything 
in  our  power  to  conciliate  them.  As  a  precautionary  measure 
she  had  spread  a  report  that  she  was  on  the  point  of  being 
31 


362  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

married  to  one  of  the  richest  and  most  respectable  of  the  Bag- 
dad merchants,  and  in  a  conversation  with  one  of  her  brothers, 
had  not  denied,  although  she  had  abstained  from  confessing  it 
to  be  the  case.  She  now  requested  that  our  marriage  might 
be  proclaimed,  and  to  that  effect  recommended  that  we  should 
give  an  entertainment  to  all  her  relations,  and  that  no  expense 
should  be  spared  in  making  it  as  magnificent  as  possible,  in 
order  that  they  might  be  convinced  she  had  not  thrown  herself 
away  upon  an  adventurer,  but,  in  fact,  had  made  an  alliance 
worthy  of  them  and  of  herself. 

She  found  me  ready  in  seconding  her  wishes,  and  I  was 
delighted  to  have  so  early  an  opportunity  to  make  a  display 
of  our  wealth.  I  began  by  hiring  a  suite  of  servants,  each  of 
whom  had  their  appropriate  situation  and  title.  I  exchanged 
the  deceased  emir's  family  of  pipes  for  others  of  greater  value, 
and  of  the  newest  fashion.  In  the  same  manner  I  provided 
myself  with  a  new  set  of  coffee-cups,  the  saucers  of  which  were 
fashioned  in  the  most  expensive  manner;  some  of  filigreed  gold, 
others  of  enamel,  and  one  or  two,  for  my  own  particular  use, 
inlaid  with  precious  stones.  Then,  as  I  had  stepped  into  the 
emir's  shoes,  I  determined  to  slip  on  his  pelisses  also.  He  was 
curious  in  the  luxuries  of  dress,  for  his  wardrobe  consisted  of 
robes  and  furs  of  great  value,  which  his  widow  informed  me 
had  existed  in  his  family  for  many  years,  and  which  I  did  not 
now  blush  to  adjust  to  my  own  shoulders.  In  short,  before  the 
day  of  the  entertainment  came,  I  had  time  to  set  up  an  establish- 
ment worthy  of  a  great  Aga ;  and  I  do  believe,  although  born  a 
barber,  yet  in  look,  manner,  and  deportment,  no  one  could  have 
acted  a  part  truer  to  my  new  character  than  I  did. 

But  I  must  not  omit  to  mention,  that  previously  to  the  feast, 
I  had  not  failed  to  visit  my  new  relations  in  all  due  form ;  and 
although  I  was  greatly  anxious  respecting  the  result  of  our 
meeting,  yet  when  I  rode  through  the  streets  mounted  on  one 
of  the  emir's  fat  horses,  caparisoned  in  velvet  housings  that 
swept  the  ground,  and  surrounded  by  a  crowd  of  well-dressed 
servants,  my  delight  and  exultation  exceeded  any  feeling  that  I 
had  ever  before  experienced.  To  see  the  crowd  make  way, 
look  up,  and  lay  their  hands  on  their  breast  as  I  passed, — to 
feel  and  hear  the  fretting  and  champing  of  my  horse's  bit  as  he 
moved  under  me,  apparently  proud  of  the  burthen  he  bore, — 
to  enjoy  the  luxury  of  a  soft  and  easy  seat,  whilst  others  were 
on  foot, — in  fine,  to  revel  in  those  feelings  of  consequence  and 
consideration  which  my  appearance  procured,  and  not  to  have 
been  intoxicated,  was  more  than  mere  humanity  could  with- 
stand, and  accordingly  I  was  completely  beside  myself.     But 


INCONVENIENCE  OF  SUPPORTING  A  FALSE  CHARACTER.  363 

what  added  most  to  the  zest  of  this  my  first  exhibition,  was 
meeting  some  of  my  own  needy  countrymen  in  the  streets,  who 
had  been  my  companions  in  the  caravan  from  Bagdad,  and  wlio, 
in  their  sheepskin  caps  and  thin  scanty  cotton  garments,  made 
but  a  sorry  figure  among  the  gayly  dressed  Osmanlies,  and 
seemed  to  stand  forth  expressly  to  make  me  relish  in  the  highest 
degree  the  good  fortune  with  which  I  had  been  visited.  Whether 
or  no  they  recognized  me,  I  know  not ;  but  this  I  recollect,  that 
I  turned  my  head  on  one  side  as  I  passed,  and  buried  my  face 
as  well  as  I  could  in  the  combined  shade  of  my  beard,  great 
turban,  and  furred  pelisse. 

My  visits  succeeded  better  than  I  could  have  expected. 
Whatever  might  have  been  the  motives  of  my  wife's  brothers, 
they  behaved  to  me  with  marked  civility,  and  indeed  flattered 
me  into  the  belief  that  I  had  conferred  an  honor  on  their  family 
in  taking  their  sister  off  their  hands.  Merchants  as  they  were, 
their  conversation  turned  principally  upon  trade,  and  I  made 
my  best  endeavors  to  talk  up  to  the  character  I  had  assumed, 
and  convinced  them  of  the  extent  of  my  undertakings  in  com- 
merce. But,  at  the  same  time,  great  was  my  circumspection 
not  to  commit  myself;  for  when  they  began  to  question  and 
cross-examine  me  upon  the  trade  of  Bagdad  and  Bassorah,  the , 
relations  of  those  cities  and  of  Arabia  in  general  with  India  and 
China,  and  to  propose  joint  concerns  in  their  various  articles 
and  produce,  I  immediately  reduced  my  speech  to  monosyllables, 
entrenched  myself  in  general  terms,  and  assented  to  proposals 
which  led  to  nothing. 

Having  completed  my  visits,  I  felt  that  one  duty  was  still  left, 
which  was,  to  make  the  good  old  Osman  a  partaker  of  my  hap- 
piness, to  inform  him  of  my  marriage,  and  to  invite  him  to  our 
ensuing  entertainment.  But,  shall  I  own  it  ?  so  much  did  I  feel 
that  I  was  acting  a  false  part,  and  so  fearful  was  I  of  being 
detected,  that  I  dared  not  trust  even  him,  taciturn  as  he  naturally 
was,  with  my  secret,  and  therefore  determined  for  the  present 
to  have  no  communication  with  him,  or,  in  fact,  with  any  of  my 
countrymen,  until  I  could  feel  myself  so  securely  fixed  in  my 
new  situation  as  to  be  fearless  of  being  displaced. 


CHAPTER  LXX. 

A    GREAT    MISTAKE QUARRELS, 

The  entertainment  went  off  with  the  greatest  success,  and 
there  was  every  reason  to  suppose  that  I  fully  succeeded  in 
making  my  guests  believe  I  was  really  the  personage  whom  I 
pretended  to  be.  I,  therefore,  began  to  feel  secure  in  my  new 
possessions,  and  gave  myself  up  to  enjoyment,  associating  with 
men  of  pleasure,  dressing  in  the  gayest  attire,  and,  in  short, 
keeping  a  house  that  was  the  talk  and  envy  of  the  city.  'Tis 
true  that  I  almost  daily  felt  the  inconvenience  of  being  indebted 
to  my  wife  for  such  good  fortune  ;  for  notwithstanding  the  pre- 
vious assurances  of  the  old  Ayesha,  I  soon  found  that  differ- 
ences of  opinion  would  arise  on  many  other  subjects  besides 
the  comparative  delicacy  of  cream  and  cheese  tarts.  "  Excel- 
lent man  must  that  old  emir  have  been,"  frequently  did  I  ex- 
claim, "  who  could  go  through  life  with  only  one  subject  of 
dispute  with  his  wife  !  For  my  part,  if  there  happens  to  be 
two  sides  to  a  question,  we  are  sure  to  appropriate  them  one  in 
opposition  to  the  other." 

I  had  long  promised  to  myself  the  enjoyment  of  one  of  the 
principal  pleasures  arising  from  my  good  fortune  ;  I  mean,  the 
exhibition  of  myself  in  all  my  splendor  before  my  countrymen 
in  the  caravanserai,  and  enjoying  the  astonishment  which  I 
should  excite  in  old  Osman,  my  former  master. 

Now,  that  all  was  safe,  as  I  fully  hoped,  I  could  no  longer 
resist  the  temptation,  and  accordingly  dressed  myself  in  my 
best  attire,  mounted  the  finest  horse  in  my  stable,  gathered  my 
whole  suite  of  servants  about  me,  and  in  the  very  busiest  hour 
of  the  day  proceeded  to  the  caravanserai,  in  which,  on  my  first 
arrival  at  Constantinople,  I  had  appeared  as  a  vender  of  pipe- 
sticks.  Upon  entering  the  gate,  no  one  seemed  to  know  me, 
but  all  were  anxious  to  do  me  honor,  hoping  that  in  me  they 
might  find  a  purchaser  of  their  merchandise.  I  inquired  for 
Osman  Aga,  whilst  my  servants  spread  a  beautiful  Persian  car- 
pet for  my  seat,  and  at  the  same  time  offered  me  one  of  my 
most  costly  amber-headed  chibouks  to  smoke.  He  came  and 
seated  himself,  with  all  due  respect,  on  the  edge  of  my  carpet, 
without  recognizing  me.  I  talked  to  him  without  reserve  for 
some  time,  and  remarked  that  he  eyed  me  with  looks  of  peculiar 
(364) 


A    GREAT    MISTAKE — QUARRELS,  365 

interest,  when,  at  length,  unable  to  restrain  himself  any  longer, 
he  exclaimed,  "  By  the  beard  of  the  blessed  Moharaed,  you 
are  either  Hajji  Baba,  or  you  are  nobody  !" 

I  laughed  with  all  my  heart  at  his  exclamation,  and  when  we 
had  mutually  explained,  very  soon  related  how  I  was  situated, 
and  to  what  profit  I  had  turned  the  fifty  pieces  of  gold  which 
he  had  lent  me.  His  philosophic  mind  did  not  appear  so  much 
elated  with  my  change  of  fortune  as  I  had  anticipated ;  but  my 
countrymen,  the  Persians,  as  soon  as  they  heard  that  under 
that  large  turban  and  that  heavy  pelisse  was  seated  Hajji  Baba, 
the  once  vender  of  little  wares  like  themselves,  and  that  all  that 
splendor  and  circumstance  of  horse,  servants,  and  rich  pipes, 
was  attendant  upon  his  person,  their  national  feelings  were 
awakened,  and  they  could  neither  contain  their  envy  nor  their 
malevolence. 

I  now,  too  late,  discovered  the  mistake  I  had  committed  in 
showing  myself  off  in  this  manner,  and  would  willingly  have 
sneaked  away  without  further  triumph. 

"  What !  is  this  Hajji  Baba  ?"  said  one,  "  the  son  of  the 
Ispahan  barber  ?  May  his  father's  grave  be  polluted,  and  his 
mother  abused  !" 

"  Well  acted,  true  child  of  Iran  !"  said  another  ;  "  you  have 
done  your  utmost  with  the  Turk's  beard,  and  may  others  do  the 
same  with  yours !" 

"  Look  at  his  great  turban,  and  his  large  trowsers,  and  his 
long  pipe,"  said  a  third ;  "his  father  never  saw  such  things, 
not  even  in  a  dream  I" 

In  this  manner  did  my  envious  countrymen  taunt  mc,  until, 
asserting  all  my  dignity,  I  rose  from  my  seat,  mounted  my 
horse,  and  left  the  place  amidst  their  scoffs  and  expressions  of 
contempt. 

My  first  sensation  was  that  of  indignation  at  them,  my  second 
of  anger  at  myself, 

"You  have  been  rightly  served,"  said  I  to  myself,  "  by  the 
soul  of  Kerbelai  Hassan,  the  barber  1  What  well-fed  hound 
ever  went  among  wolves  without  being  torn  to  pieces  ?  What 
fool  of  a  townsman  ever  risked  himself  amongst  the  wild  Arabs 
of  the  desert  without  being  robbed  and  beaten  ?  Perhaps 
Hajji  may  one  day  become  a  wise  man,  but  plentiful  is  the  vex- 
ation he  must  eat  first !  Of  what  use  is  a  beard,"  said  I,  taking 
mine  into  my  hand,  "  when  an  empty  sconce  is  tied  to  the  end 
of  it  ?  about  as  much  as  a  handle  is  to  a  basket  without  dates. 
Great  wisdom  had  the  sage  who  declared  that  no  man  was  ever 
pleased  with  the  elevation  of  his  fellow,  except  perhaps  when 
he  saw  him  dangling  on  a  gibbet !" 
31* 


366  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

In  this  manner  did  I  soliloquise  until  I  reached  my  house, 
where,  having  retired  to  the  harem,  I  endeavored  to  seek  re- 
pose for  the  remainder  of  the  day,  in  order  to  chew  the  cud  of 
my  bitter  reflections.  But  I  was  mistaken  ;  for,  to  add  to  my 
misery,  Shekerleb,  my  wife,  as  if  impelled  by  some  wicked  de- 
mon, demanded  that  I  should  immediately  advance  her  the 
money  inserted  in  the  marriage  settlement  for  clothes,  and  so 
worked  upon  me  by  her  very  unreasonable  entreaties,  that,  in- 
volving her  in  the  ill-humor  in  which  I  had  continued  against 
my  own  countrymen,  I  poured  forth  the  current  of  my  feelings 
in  language  and  gestures  the  most  violent.  Curses  upon  them 
and  maledictions  upon  her  came  from  my  lips  in  horrid  succes- 
sion, until  I,  the  once  mild  and  patient  Hajji,  had  become  more 
furious  than  a  Mazanderan  lion. 

My  wife  at  first  was  all  astonishment,  and  as  she  drew  herself 
up  at  the  head  of  her  slaves  and  handmaids,  seconded  by  the 
old  Ayesha,  waited  with  impatient  silence  for  an  opportunity 
to  speak.  At  length,  when  she  had  found  utterance,  her  mouth 
appeared  too  small  for  the  volume  of  words  which  flowed  from 
it.  Her  volubility  unloosed  the  tongue  of  Ayesha,  and  the  old 
woman's  those  of  all  the  other  women,  until  there  arose  such  a 
tempest  of  words  and  screams,  all  of  which  were  directed 
against  me,  that  I  was  nearly  overwhelmed. 

I  would  have  resisted,  but  I  found  it  impossible.  It  raged 
with  such  fury,  that  the  room  in  which  we  all  stood  was  not 
large  enough  to  contain  us.  I  was  the  first  to  seek  shelter,  and 
made  a  retreat  from  my  harem  amid  the  groans,  the  revilings, 
and  the  clapping  of  hands  of  the  beings  within  it,  who,  with 
my  wife  at  their  head,  looked  more  like  maniacs  than  those  fair 
creatures  promised  by  our  Prophet  to  all  true  believers  in 
paradise. 

Tired,  jaded,  and  distressed  by  my  day's  adventures,  I  retired 
into  my  own  apartment,  locked  the  door,  and  there,  though  sur- 
rounded by  and  master  of  every  luxury  that  man  can  enjoy,  I 
felt  myself  the  most  miserable  of  beings,  detesting  myself  for 
my  idiotical  conduct  in  the  present  posture  of  my  affairs,  and 
fall  of  evil  forebodings  for  the  future.  The  inconveniences  of 
lying  now  stared  me  full  in  the  face.  I  felt  that  I  was  caught 
in  my  own  snare  ;  for  if  I  endeavored  to  extricate  myself  from 
my  present  dilemma  by  telling  more  lies,  it  was  evident  that  at 
the  end  I  should  not  fail  to  be  entirely  entangled. 

"Would  to  Heaven,"  did  I  exclaim,  "that  I  had  been  fair 
and  candid  at  first ;  for  now  I  should  be  free  as  air,  and  my 
wife  might  have  stormed  until  the  day  of  judgment,  without 


DISCOVERED    TO    BE    AN    IMPOSTOR.  36t 

feeing  a  single  shift  the  better  for  it;  but  I  am  bound  by 
writings,  sealed  and  doubly  sealed,  and  I  must,  and  ever  shall, 
stand  before  the  world  a  liar  both  by  word  and  deed." 


CHAPTER    LXXL 

DISCOVERED    TO    BE    AN    IMPOSTOR. 

I  PASSED  a  feverish  night,  and  did  not  fall  asleep  until  the 
muezzins  from  the  minarets  had  announced  the  break  of  day. 
Scarcely  had  an  hour  elapsed,  ere  I  was  awoke  by  an  unusual 
stir,  and  then  was  informed  by  one  of  my  servants  that  my 
wife's  brothers,  attended  by  several  other  persons,  were  in  the 
house. 

Involuntarily,  upon  hearing  this,  I  was  seized  with  a  trem- 
bling, which  at  first  deprived  me  of  all  power  of  action,  and  the 
consequences  of  lying  now  spoke  for  themselves.  Fifty  hor- 
rors, one  more  hideous  than  the  other,  rose  in  my  mind,  and  I 
began  to  feel  a  tingling  in  the  soles  of  my  feet,  which  the  lapse 
of  years  had  not  been  able  to  dispel,  so  impressive  had  been 
the  lesson  received  at  Meshed.  "But,  after  all,"  I  reflected, 
"  Shekerleb  is  my  wife,  happen  what  may ;  and  if  I  have  pre- 
tended to  be  richer  than  is  really  the  case,  I  have  only  done 
what  thousands  before  me  have  done  also,"  I  then  turned  to  my 
servant,  and  said,  "  In  the  name  of  the  Prophet,  let  them  come 
in, — and  make  ready  the  pipes  and  coffee." 

My  bed  was  then  rolled  up  and  carried  out  of  the  room,  and 
my  visitors  one  after  the  other  in  silent  procession  walked  in, 
and  seated  themselves  on  my  divan.  They  consisted  of  my 
wife's  two  brothers,  of  her  late  father's  brother,  and  his  son, 
and  of  a  stern  looking  man  whom  I  had  never  before  seen. 
These  were  seated  ;  but  besides,  a  numerous  train  of  servants 
followed,  who  stood  in  a  row  at  the  end  of  the  room,  amongst 
whom,  standing  foremost,  were  two  ruffian-like  looking  fellows 
armed  with  heavy  canes,  eyeing  me  as  I  thought  with  peculiar 
fierceness. 

I  endeavored  to  appear  as  innocent  and  undisturbed  as  pos- 
sible, and  pretended  the  greatest  delight  at  seeing  them. 
Having  made  them  every  civil  speech  which  I  could  devise,  to 
which  indeed  I  received  nothing  ])nt  monosyllables  for  answers, 


368  THE    ADVENTURES    OF    HAJJI    BABA. 

I  ordered  pipes  and  coffee,  at  the  partaking  of  which  I  hoped 
to  acquire  some  insight  into  the  object  of  their  visit. 

"  May  your  hours  be  fortunate  !"  said  I  to  the  elder  brother. 
"Is  there  anything  at  this  early  time  of  the  day  in  which  I  can 
be  of  use  ?     If  there  is,  command  me." 

"  Hajji,"  said  he,  after  an  ominous  pause,  "look  at  me  1  Do 
you  take  us  for  animals,  without  understanding,  without  com- 
mon sense  ?  or  do  you  look  upon  yourself  as  the  man  of  his  day 
without  compare,  specially  privileged  to  take  the  beards  of 
humankind  into  your  hand,  and  to  do  what  you  like  with 
them  ?" 

"What  is  this  that  you  say?"  I  replied.  "OmyAgal  I 
am  nobody  and  nothing ;  I  am  less  than  an  ounce  of  dust." 

"  Man  !"  said  the  second  brother,  in  a  warmer  tone  of  voice, 
"nobody  and  nothing,  do  you  say?  then  what  have  you  made 
of  us  ?  Are  we  nothing,  that  you  should  come  all  this  distance 
from  Bagdad  to  make  us  dance  like  apes  at  your  bidding  ?" 

"  0  Allah,  great  and  good!"  exclaimed  I,  "what  is  all  this  ? 
Why  do  you  speak  after  this  manner  ?  What  have  I  done  ? — 
Speak,  and  speak  truth  1" 

"Ah,  Hajji,  Hajji!"  said  my  wife's  uncle,  shaking  his  head 
and  grey  beard  at  the  same  time,  "  you  have  been  eating  much 
abomination  I  Could  a  man  who  has  seen  the  world  like  you, 
suppose  that  others  will  eat  it  with  you,  and  say.  Thanks  be 
to  Allah !  No,  no — we  may  eat,  but  will  not  digest  your  in- 
solence." 

"  But  what  have  I  done,  0  my  uncle  ?"  said  I  to  him ;  "  by 
my  soul  speak !" 

"What  have  you  done?"  said  my  wife's  cousin:  "Is  lying 
nothing  ?  is  stealing  nothing  ?  is  marrying  a  wife  under  false 
pretences  nothing  ?  You  must  be  a  rare  man  without  shame 
to  call  such  acts  nothing  I" 

"Perhaps,"  said  the  eldest  brother,  "you  think  it  a  great 
honor  which  the  son  of  an  Ispahan  barber  confers  upon  one  of 
the  richest  families  of  Constantinople,  when  he  marries  their 
daughter  1" 

"And  perhaps,"  said  the  other,  "you  may  look  upon  a  beg 
garly  vender  of  pipe-sticks  in  the  light  of  a  merchant,  and  think 
him  worthy  of  any  alliance  1" 

"  But  Hajji,  praise  be  to  Allah !  is  a  great  merchant,"  said 
the  uncle  ironically :  "  his  silks  and  velvets  are  now  on  their  way 
to  bring  us  lamb-skins  from  Bokhara ;  his  shawls  are  traveling 
to  us  from  Cashmere,  and  his  ships  are  blackening  the  surface 
of  the  seas  between  China  and  Bassorah  !" 

"  And  his  parentage,"  continued  his  son  in  the  same  strain, 


DISCOVERED   TO    BE    AN    IMPOSTOR.  369 

"  a  barber's  son  did  you  say  ?  forbid  it  Allah !  No,  no ;  he 
dates  from  the  Koreish.  He  is  not  even  the  descendant,  but, 
by  the  blessing  of  God,  of  the  ancestry  of  the  Prophet ;  and 
who  can  come  in  competition  with  a  Mansouri  Arab  ?" 

"What  is  all  this  ?"  again  and  again  did  I  exclaim,  as  I  saw 
the  storm  gathering  about  my  ears.  "  If  you  want  to  kill  me, 
do  so  ;  but  do  not  pull  off  my  skin  by  inches." 

"  I  tell  you  what  it  is,  man  without  faith,"  said  the  stern 
man,  who  hitherto  had  remained  immovable  ;  "  you  are  a  wretch 
who  deserves  not  to  live  I  and  if  you  do  not  immediately  give 
up  all  pretensions  to  your  wife,  and  leave  this  house  and  every- 
thing that  belongs  to  it,  without  a  moment's  delay,  do  you  see 
those  men  ?  (pointing  to  the  two  ruffians  before -mentioned ;)  they 
will  just  make  your  soul  take  leave  of  your  body  as  easy  as  they 
would  knock  the  tobacco  out  of  their  pipes,  I  have  spoken, 
and  you  are  master  to  act  as  you  please." 

Then  the  whole  of  the  assembly,  as  if  excited  by  this  speech, 
unloosed  their  tongues  at  once,  and,  without  reserve  of  words 
or  action,  told  me  a  great  number  of  disagreeable  truths. 

This  storm,  which  I  permitted  to  rage  without  opening  my 
lips,  gave  me  time  for  reflection,  and  I  determined  to  try  what 
a  little  resistance  would  do. 

"And  who  are  you,"  said  I  to  the  stern  man,  "who  dares 
come  into  my  house,  and  treat  me  as  your  dog  ?  As  for  these," 
pointing  to  my  wife's  relations,  "  the  house  is  theirs,  and  they 
are  welcome  ;  but  you,  who  are  neither  her  father,  her  brother, 
nor  her  uncle,  what  have  you  to  do  here  ?  I  neither  married 
your  daughter,  nor  your  sister,  and  therefore  what  can  it  be  to 
yon  who  I  am  ?" 

All  this  while  he  seemed  swelling  with  rage.  He  and  his 
ruffians  were  curling  up  their  moustaches  to  the  corners  of  their 
eyes,  and  eyeing  me,  as  the  lion  does  the  hind,  before  he  pounces 
upon  it. 

"  Who  am  I  ?"  said  he,  with  a  voice  of  anger.  "  If  you  want 
to  know,  ask  those  who  brought  me  here.  I  and  my  men  act 
from  authority,  which  if  you  dispute,  it  will  be  the  worse  for 
you." 

"But,"  said  I,  softening  my  tone,  for  I  now  found  that  they 
were  officers  of  the  police,  "but  if  you  insist  upon  separating 
me  from  my  wife,  to  whom  I  have  been  lawfully  married,  give 
me  time  to  consult  the  men  of  the  law.  Every  son  of  Islam 
has  the  blessed  Koran  as  his  refuge,  and  ye  would  not  be  such 
infidels  as  to  deprive  me  of  that  ?  Besides,  I  have  not  been 
told  yet  that  she  agrees  to  what  you  propose.  She  first  sought 
me  out ;  I  did  not  seek  her.     She  wooed  me  for  ray  own  sake, 


370  THE   ADVENTURES   OF   HAJJI   BABA. 

not  for  any  worldly  interest :  and  when  I  accepted  her  I  knew 
her  not,  neither  had  I  any  tidings  of  either  her  wealth  or  her 
family.  The  whole  has  been  the  business  of  predestination,  and 
if  ye  are  Mussulmen  will  ye  dare  to  oppose  that  ?" 

"As  to  the  wishes  of  Shekerleb  upon  the  subject,"  said  the 
eldest  brother,  "  make  your  mind  easy.  She  desires  a  separa- 
tion more  even  than  we  do." 

"Yes,  yes,  in  the  name  of  the  Prophet,  yes,  let  him  go  in 
peace.  For  the  sake  of  Allah,  let  us  be  free,"  and  fifty  other 
such  exclamations,  all  at  once  struck  my  ear ;  and  on  looking 
to  the  door  which  led  into  the  women's  apartments,  from  whence 
the  sound  came,  I  beheld  my  women  veiled,  headed  by  my  wife, 
who  had  been  conducted  there  on  purpose  to  give  evidence 
against  me,  and  who  all  seemed  possessed  by  so  many  evil 
spirits,  shouting  and  wailing  out  their  lamentations  and  en- 
treaties for  my  dismissal,  as  if  I  were  the  wicked  one  in  person 
to  be  exorcised  from  the  house. 

Finding  that  all  was  over  with  me,  that  it  was  in  vain  to  con- 
tend against  a  power  I  could  not  withstand,  stranger  and  un- 
protected as  I  was  in  a  foreign  land,  I  put  the  best  face  I  could 
upon  my  forlorn  situation,  and  getting  up  from  my  seat,  I  ex- 
claimed, "If  it  is  so,  be  it  so.  I  neither  want  Shekerleb  nor 
her  money,  nor  her  brothers,  nor  her  uncle,  nor  anything  that 
belongs  to  them,  since  they  do  not  want  me ;  but  this  I  will 
say,  that  they  have  treated  me  in  a  manner  unworthy  of  the 
creed  and  name  of  Mussulmen.  Had  I  been  a  dog  amongst 
the  unbelievers,  I  should  have  been  treated  better.  From  the 
bottom  of  my  heart  I  believe  that  the  same  punishment  which 
shall  be  inflicted  on  the  last  day,  upon  those  who  reject  our 
holy  Prophet,  shall  be  inflicted  upon  my  oppressors."  I  then, 
with  great  emphasis,  pronounced  the  following  sentence  against 
them,  as  near  as  my  memory  would  serve  me,  from  the  blessed 
Koran ;  "  They  shall  have  garments  of  living  fire,  fitted  tight 
upon  them ;  boiling  water  shall  be  poured  over  them ;  their 
bowels  and  skins  shall  be  dissolved,  and,  in  this  state,  they  be 
beaten  with  red  hot  maces  of  iron,  and  flogged  with  whips, 
whose  lashes  are  made  of  lightnings,  and  the  noise  of  which 
shall  be  claps  of  thunder." 

Upon  this,  roused  and  excited  as  I  was  with  the  speech  I 
had  made,  I  stood  in  the  middle  of  the  room,  and  divested  ray- 
self  of  every  part  of  my  dress  which  had  belonged  to  my  wife, 
or  which  I  might  have  purchased  with  her  money.  Throwing 
down  every  article  from  me,  as  if  it  had  been  abomination,  and 
then  calling  for  an  old  cloak  which  had  originally  belonged  to 
me,  I  threw  it  over  my  shoulders  and  made  my  exit,  denounc- 
ing a  curse  upon  the  staring  assembly  I  left  behind  me. 


CHAPTER  LXXII. 

SEEKS    CONSOLATION    IN    A    FKIENd's    ADVICE. 

When  I  had  got  into  the  street  I  walked  hastily  on,  without, 
for  some  time,  heeding  whither  I  was  bending  my  steps.  My 
breast  was  convulsed  by  a  thousand  contending  passions  ;  and 
so  nearly  had  I  lost  possession  of  my  reason,  that,  when  in  sight 
of  the  sea,  I  began  seriously  to  consider  whether  it  would  not 
be  wisdom  to  throw  myself  headlong  in. 

But,  crossing  a  large  open  space,  an  occurrence  happened 
which,  however  trifling  it  may  appear,  was  of  great  consequence 
to  me,  inasmuch  as  it  turned  the  current  of  my  thoughts  into  a 
new  channel,  and  saved  me  from  destruction.  I  was  witness  to 
one  of  those  dog  fights  so  frequently  seen  in  the  streets  of  Con- 
stantinople. A  dog  had  strayed  into  the  territory  of  another 
community,  had  infringed  their  rights,  and  stolen  a  bone. 
Immediately  an  immense  uproar  ensued ;  all  were  on  foot,  and 
in  full  cry,  and  the  strange  dog  was  chased  across  the  border 
into  his  own  territory.  Here,  meeting  some  of  his  own  friends, 
he  called  them  about  him,  returned  to  the  attack,  and  a  general 
engagement  ensued  as  I  was  passing. 

While  I  stood  by,  intent  upon  the  scene,  a  thought  struck 
me,  and  I  exclaimed,  "  Allah,  oh  Allah,  how  inscrutable  are 
thy  designs  1  and  how  little  ought  man,  narrow-minded,  short- 
sighted man,  ever  to  repine  at  thy  decrees !  Thou  throwest 
into  my  path  a  lesson,  which  teaches  me  the  way  that  I  should 
go,  and  that  assistance  is  ever  at  hand  to  those  who  will  seek 
it ;  and,  though  given  by  a  dog,  let  me  not  despise  it.  No,  am 
I  to  be  surprised  at  anything  when  I  see  animals,  without  rea- 
son, acting  like  men,  with  it  ?  L'et  me  not  be  cast  down,  but 
rather  retreat  to  where  I  may  still  find  a  friend,  and  seek  con- 
solation in  his  advice  and  experience  I" 

Upon  this,  I  turned  almost  mechanically  to  where  I  knew  I 
should  find  my  faithful  friend  and  adviser,  old  Osman,  who, 
although  a  Turk  and  a  Suni,  had  always  behaved  to  me  as  if 
he  had  been  my  countryman,  and  one  of  my  own  religious  per- 
suasion. He  received  me  in  his  usual  quiet  manner ;  and  when 
I  had  related  all  my  misfortunes,  he  pufied  out  a  long  volume 
of  smoke  from  his  never-failing  chibouk,  and  exclaimed,  with  a 
deep  sigh,  "  Allah  kerirn .'"  (God  is  merciful  I) 

(3n) 


3T2  THK  ADVENTURES  OP  HAJJI  BABA. 

"  My  friend,"  said  he,  "  when  you  appeared  here  in  all  your 
magnificence  before  the  Persians,  from  that  moment  I  was  ap- 
prehensive that  some  evil  would  befall  you.  You,  perhaps,  are 
yet  not  old  enough  to  have  learnt  how  odious  are  comparisons. 
Could  you  for  a  moment  suppose,  that  men,  in  your  own  station 
in  life,  who  are  drudging  on,  day  after  day,  intent  upon  the  sale 
of  a  pipe-stick  or  a  bag  of  Shiraz  tobacco,  that  they  could  bear 
to  be  bearded  by  an  appearance  of  greatness  and  prosperity,  so 
much  beyond  anything  which  they  could  ever  expect  to  attain  ? 
Had  you  appeared  with  a  better  coat  or  a  richer  cap  than  they, 
or  had  you  been  mounted  on  a  horse,  when  they  could  only 
aiford  an  ass,  then,  perhaps,  nothing  more  would  have  been 
said,  but  that  you  were  more  expert  in  making  your  fortune, 
and  a  better  retailer  of  your  wares.  But  to  crush,  to  beat 
them  down,  with  your  magnificent  dress,  your  amber-headed 
pipes,  your  train  of  servants,  your  richly  caparisoned  horse, 
and,  above  all,  the  airs  of  grandeur  and  protection  which  you 
took  upon  yourself,  was  more  than  they  could  allow,  and  they 
immediately  rose  in  hostility,  and  determined  to  bring  you  down 
to  their  own  level  again,  if  possible.  Evidently,  it  is  they  who 
have  whispered  into  the  ear  of  your  wife's  brothers  that  you 
were  not  a  Bagdad  merchant,  but  only  the  son  of  an  Ispahan 
barber,  and  a  sorry  vender  of  little  wares.  They,  doubtless, 
soon  undeceived  them  respecting  the  possibility  of  fulfilling  the 
stipulations  to  which  you  have  bound  yourself  in  your  wife's 
marriage  contract ;  and  they,  it  is  plain,  have  commented  freely 
upon  your  pretensions  to  noble  birth,  and  upon  the  flourishing 
account  which  you  gave  of  your  mercantile  concerns,  of  your 
transactions  in  Bokhara,  and  of  your  ships  sailing  to  China. 

"  Had  you  first  visited  me  in  a  quiet  way,  as  Hajji  Baba,  the 
Ispahani,  and  not  as  Hajji  Baba,  the  Turkish  Aga,  I  would 
have  warned  you  against  making  an  undue  exhibition  of  your- 
self and  your  prosperity  before  your  countrymen  ;  but  the  mis- 
chief was  done  as  soon  as  the  deed  was  over,  and  now  all  that 
can  be  recommended  is,  that  from  the  past  you  gain  experience 
for  the  future."  After  this  speech  he  took  to  his  pipe  again, 
and  puffed  away  with  redoubled  vigor. 

"  This  may  be  very  true,"  said  I.  "  What  is  done  is  done, 
and  peace  abide  with  it :  but,  after  all,  I  am  a  Mussulman,  and 
justice  is  due  to  me  as  well  as  to  another.  I  never  heard  of  a 
woman  putting  away  her  husband,  although  the  contrary  fre- 
quently happens  ;  and  it  has  not  yet  reached  my  understanding 
why  I  should  be  the  only  true  believer  who  is  called  into  the 
house,  and  thrust  out  of  it  again,  in  a  manner  that  would  even 
disgrace  a  dog,  merely  because  it  suits  a  capricious  woman  one 


SEEKS    CONSOLATION    IN    A    FRIEND'S    ADVICE.  373 

morning  to  like,  and  the  evening  after  to  dislike  me.  Cadies, 
mufties,  sheikh  el  islaras,  abound  here  as  well  as  in  other  Mo- 
hamedan  cities,  and  why  should  I  not  have  recourse  to  them  ? 
They  are  paid  to  administer  justice,  and  wherefore  should  they 
sit,  with  their  hands  across,  counting  their  beads,  when  such 
injustice  as  that,  with  which  I  have  been  visited,  is  going  about 
the  land  seeking  for  redress  ?" 

"  Are  you  mad,  Hajji,"  rejoined  the  old  man,  "  to  think  of 
redress  from  the  widow  and  relations  of  one  of  the  most  power- 
ful emirs  of  Islam,  and  that,  too,  when  she  is  supported  by  her 
brothers,  two  of  the  richest  merchants  in  Constantinople  ? — 
Where  have  you  lived  all  your  lifetime,  not  to  know,  that  he 
who  hath  most  gold  hath  most  justice  ?  and  that,  if  such  a  man 
as  you  were  to  appear  before  the  tribunal  of  the  mufti,  with 
every  word,  line,  leaf,  and  sural  of  the  Koran  in  your  favor, 
and  one  as  rich  and  powerful  as  your  wife's  brother  were  to  ap- 
pear on  the  other  side  against  you,  as  long  as  he  had  gold  in 
his  favor,  you  might  appeal  to  your  sacred  book  until  you  and 
it  were  tired  of  walking  round  each  other,  for  justice  you  would 
never  obtain." 

"0,  Ali !  0,  Mohamed!"  exclaimed  I,  "if  the  world  is  in- 
deed as  iniquitous  as  this,  then  Hajji  Baba,  truly,  has  made  a 
bad  bargain,  and  I  wish  he  were  again  in  possession  of  his 
pipe-sticks :  but  I  cannot,  and  will  not,  lose  all  and  everything 
in  this  easy  manner, — I  will  go  and  proclaim  my  misfortunes 
from  the  housetop,  rather." 

Upon  which,  in  utter  despair,  I  began  to  cry  and  moan,  and 
pulled  out  some  of  my  beard  by  the  roots. 

Osmau  Aga  endeavored  to  comfort  me, — made  me  look  back 
upon  my  past  life,  and  brought  to  my  recollection  our  mutual 
adventures  while  prisoners  among  the  Turcomans. 

"God  is  all-powerful  and  all-merciful,"  said  he.  "Our 
destinies  are  written  in  the  book,  and  therefore  what  is  there 
left,  but  to  submit  ?" 

"But  I  am  a  Persian,"  exclaimed  I,  (a  new  thought  having 
crossed  my  mind,)  "as  well  as  a  Mussulman;  why,  therefore, 
should  I  submit  to  injustice  from  a  Turk  ? — We  are,  after  all, 
a  nation,  and  have  had  our  Jinghizs,  our  Tiraours,  and  our 
Nadirs,  who  made  our  name  respected  throughout  the  world, 
and  who  burnt  the  fathers  of  the  Turks  wherever  they  could 
find  them.  I  will  seek  our  ambassador,  and,  if  he  be  a  man, 
he  will  insist  upon  justice  being  done  me.  Yes,  yes  I  the  am- 
bassador shall  get  back  my  wife  ;  (oh,  lucky  thought  I)  and 
then  we  shall  sec  who  will  take  her  from  me  again." 

So  elated  was  I  by  this  idea,  that  I  did  not  stop  to  hear  what 
32 


374  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

Osraan  might  have  to  say  on  the  subject,  but  immediately 
sallied  forth,  full  of  fresh  spirits  and  vigor,  to  seek  out  the 
representative  of  our  King  of  Kings,  who,  at  the  best  of  all 
fortunate  hours,  had  very  recently  arrived  on  a  mission  to  the 
Sublime  Porte. 


CHAPTER  LXXIII. 

INTERVIEW    WITH    THE    PERSIAN    AMBASSADOR. 

Upon  inquiry  I  found  that  the  ambassador  had  been  pro- 
vided with  a  residence  at  Scutari,  and  thither  I  immediately 
bent  my  course,  happy  to  have  the  time  which  I  should  pass  in 
the  boat  at  my  disposal,  in  order  to  arrange  my  ideas  for  the 
purpose  of  making  out  a  clear  and  strong  case  of  complaint. 

Having  landed,  I  inquired  the  way  to  his  house,  the  avenues 
of  which  were  thronged  by  his  numerous  servants,  who  reminded 
me  of  my  country,  (so  difiTerent  from  that  in  which  we  were,) 
by  their  loquaciousness  and  quick  gesticulation. 

They  soon  found  by  my  discourse,  that  I  was  one  of  them, 
although  disguised  by  a  Turkish  dress,  and  without  any  dif- 
ficulty I  was  promised  immediately  to  be  ushered  into  the  pre- 
sence of  their  master.  But  previously  to  this,  I  was  anxious  to 
acquire  some  little  insight  into  his  character,  in  order  that  I 
might  shape  my  discourse  accordingly ;  and  therefore  entered 
into  conversation  with  one  of  his  valets,  who  did  not  scruple  to 
talk  fully  and  unreservedly  upon  every  topic  upon  which  I  re- 
quired information. 

The  result  of  my  inquiries  was  as  follows  : — The  ambassador, 
by  name  Mirza  Firouz,  was  by  birth  a  Shirazi,  of  respectable 
though  not  of  high  parentage,  excepting  in  the  instance  of  his 
mother,  who  was  sister  to  a  former  grand  vizier  of  great  power, 
who,  in  fact,  had  been  the  means  of  placing  the  Shah  upon  his 
throne.  The  mirza  married  his  cousiu,  a  daughter  of  the  said 
vizier ;  and  this  led  to  his  being  employed  in  the  government, 
though  he  had  previously  undergone  many  vicissitudes,  which 
had  caused  him  to  travel  into  various  countries.  This  circum- 
stance, however,  was  one  of  the  reasons  of  his  being  selected  by 
the  Shah  to  transact  his  business  at  foreign  courts.  "He  is  a 
man  of  a  quick  and  penetrating  mind,"  said  my  informant : 
"irascible,  but  easy  to  soothe,  of  a  tender  and  forgiving  nature, 
although  in  his  first  anger  led  to  commit  acts  of  violence.     He 


INTERVIEW    WITH    THE    PERSIAN    AMBASSADOR.  375 

is  gifted  with  the  most  overwhelming  powers  of  speech,  which 
always  are  sure  to  get  him  out  of  the  scrapes  into  which  his 
indiscreet  use  of  them  very  frequently  leads  him.  To  his  ser- 
vants and  followers  he  is  kind,  and  the  contrary,  by  turns. 
Sometimes  he  permits  them  to  do  and  say  everything  which 
they  choose,  at  others,  he  keeps  them  at  a  most  chilling  dis- 
tance. But,  on  the  whole,  he  is  easy  of  access,  of  agreeable 
commerce,  of  most  fascinating  manners,  and  of  a  joyous  and 
sociable  nature." 

Such  was  the  man  into  whose  presence  I  was  conducted.  He 
was  seated  in  a  corner,  after  the  manner  of  Persia ;  therefore,  I 
could  not  ascertain  what  his  height  might  be,  but  his  bust  was 
extremely  fine.  His  head  was  symmetrically  placed  on  his 
shoulders,  which  were  blended  in  an  easy  curve  with  his  neck ; 
whilst  his  tight  dress  helped  to  give  great  breadth  to  his  breast. 
His  face  was  one  of  the  handsomest  I  had  ever  seen  amongst 
my  countrymen,  his  nose  aquiline,  his  eyes  large  and  sparkling, 
his  teeth  and  mouth  exquisite,  and  his  beard  the  envy  of  all 
beholders.  In  short,  as  a  specimen  of  the  country  he  repre- 
sented, none  could  have  been  better  selected. 

When  we  had  interchanged  our  greetings  as  true  believers, 
he  said  to  me,  "Are  you  an  Irani ?" 

"Yes,"  said  I,  "so  please  you." 

"Then  why  in  looks  an  Osmanli?"  said  he.  "Praise  oe  to 
Allah,  that  we  have  a  king  and  a  country  of  whom  no  one  need 
be  ashamed." 

"Yes,"  answered  I,  "your  ordonnances  are  truth,  and  I  am 
become  less  than  a  dog,  since  I  have  put  on  the  airs  of  a  Turk. 
My  days  have  been  passed  in  bitterness,  and  my  liver  has  melted 
into  watei*,  since  I  have  entangled  myself  by  a  connection  with 
this  hated  people  ;  and  my  only  refuge  is  in  God  and  you." 

"How  is  this?"  said  he:  "speak.  Has  a  child  of  Ispahan 
(for  such  you  are  by  your  accent)  been  taken  in  by  a  Turk  ? 
This  is  wonderful  indeed  1  We  travel  all  this  way  to  make 
them  feed  upon  our  abomination,  not  to  learn  to  eat  theirs." 

I  then  related  the  whole  of  my  adventures  from  beginning  to 
end.  As  I  proceeded  he  seemed  wonderfully  interested.  When 
I  got  to  my  marriage  he  became  much  amused,  and  roared  with 
laughter  at  the  settlements  I  had  made  on  my  wife.  The  ac- 
count I  gave  of  the  entertainment,  the  respect  with  which  I  was 
treated,  my  magnificence  and  grandeur,  afl'orded  him  great  de- 
light ;  and  the  more  I  descanted  upon  the  deception  which  I 
had  practiced  upon  the  cows  of  Turks,  as  he  called  them,  the 
more  interest  he  took  in  my  narrative,  which  he  constantly  in- 
terrupted by  his  exclamations,  "  Ay,  well  done,  oh  Ispahani ! — 


376  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

Oh  !  thou  bankrupt  I— By  AHah  !  You  did  well  1— If  I  had 
been  there,  I  could  not  have  done  better." 

But  when  I  mformed  him  of  the  manner  I  had  been  served 
by  my  envious  countrymen,  of  the  finishing  scene  in  my  own 
house,  of  the  screams  of  my  women,  of  the  speeches  of  my  wife's 
relations, — and  when  I  represented  the  very  words,  look,  and 
attitude  with  which  I  made  my  exit,  far  from  having  produced 
the  sympatliy  I  expected,  his  mirth  was  excited  to  such  a  de- 
gree, that  I  thought  the  veins  in  his  forehead  would  have  burst ; 
and  he  actually  rolled  himself  on  his  sofa  in  the  convulsions  of 
laughter. 

"  But,  may  it  please  you  to  consider,"  said  I,  "  oh  my  Aga ! 
the  situation  in  which  I  am  now  placed.  Instead  of  the  bed 
of  roses  upon  which  I  slept,  I  have  not  even  a  pillow  whereon 
to  lay  my  head.  As  for  the  horses  and  velvet  which  I  used  to 
bestride,  happy  should  I  now  be  could  I  claim  even  an  ass  for 
my  own.  And  when  I  call  to  my  mind  the  luxuries  in  which  I 
reveled,  my  rich  dresses,  my  splendid  horses,  my  train  of  ser- 
vants, my  marble  baths,  my  pipes,  my  coifee-cups — in  short, 
what  shall  I  say,  my  everything  a  man  could  wish  for,  and  now 
find  myself  a  beggar — conceive  the  bitter  recollections  which 
prey  upon  me,  and  which  excite  anything  but  laughter  in  my 
breast,  whatever  they  may  do  in  yours." 

"But  those  Turks,  those  heavy  buffaloes  of  Turks,"  roared 
he,  still  screaming  with  laughter;  "praise  be  to  Allah  I  I  can 
see  them  now  with  their  long  beards,  their'  great  caps,  and  their 
empty  heads,  believing  all  that  the  sharp-witted  madman  of 
Persia  chose  to  tell  them,  and  they  would  have  gone  on  be- 
lieving, had  they  not  been  undeceived  by  a  similar  species  of 
madman." 

"But  what  have  I  to  do  in  the  business?"  said  he  to  me. 
"  I  am  neither  your  father  nor  your  uncle,  to  interfere  and  make 
it  up  with  your  wife's  relations ;  nor  am  I  a  cadi,  or  a  mufti, 
who  can  judge  the  case  between  you." 

"  No,"  answered  I ;  "  but  you  are  my  refuge  here,  and  the 
representative  of  God's  vicegerent  upon  earth ;  and  you  can 
see  justice  done  me,  and  not  let  a  poor  unfiiended  stranger  be 
oppressed." 

"  But  would  you  get  back  possession  of  your  wife,"  said  he, 
"  and  stand  a  chance  of  being  murdered  ?  Of  what  good  would 
all  your  riches  be,  if  the  day  after  repossessing  them  you  were 
found  dead  in  your  bed  ?  No,  no  ;  lend  me  your  ear,  and 
hearken  to  good  council.  Throw  off  your  Turkish  clothes,  and 
be  a  Persian  again  ;  and  when  in  your  proper  character,  I  will 
keep  you  in  mind,  and  see  what  may  be  done  for  you.     Your 


STATE    SECRETS.  3T7 

story  has  interested  me,  your  wit  and  manner  are  agreeable, 
and  believe  me  that  many  better  things  are  to  be  done  in  the 
world  than  to  smoke  a  long  pipe  all  day,  with  no  other  object 
in  life  than  to  sleep  upon  a  bed  of  roses,  and  to  ride  a  fat  horse. 
In  the  meanwhile,  take  up  your  quarters  here  ;  look  upon  your- 
self as  one  of  my  suite  for  the  present,  and  whenever  I  wish  to 
be  merry  you  shall  come  and  relate  your  story  over  again. 

Upon  this  I  went  up  to  him,  kissed  his  knee  in  token  of  ac- 
knowledgment, and  retired,  scarcely  knowing  what  steps  to 
take  in  this  unsettled  posture  of  my  affairs. 


CHAPTER  LXXIY. 

STATE    SECRETS. 

"Negessity,"  so  the  poet  sayeth,  "  is  as  a  strong  rider  with 
sharp  stirrups,  who  maketh  the  sorry  jade  do  that  which  the 
strong  horse  sometimes  will  not  do." 

I  was  disappointed,  vexed,  and  mortified.  My  hopes  of 
living  a  life  of  ease  and  enjoyment  had  disappeared,  and  I  once 
more  saw  mj«elf  obliged  to  have  recourse  to  my  own  ingenuity 
to  keep  me  from  starvation. 

"If  I  have  lost  a  home,"  said  I,  "see  I  have  found  a  friend. 
Let  me  not  reject  his  proffered  protection ;  and  the  same 
powerful  destiny  which  has  led  me  on  step  by  step  through  the 
labyrinth  of  life  will  doubtless  again  take  me  by  the  hand,  and 
perhaps  at  length  safely  land  me  where  I  shall  no  longer  be 
perplexed  respecting  the  path  I  ought  to  pursue." 

I  determined  to  make  the  most  of  my  access  to  the  ambas- 
sador ;  and  happy  was  I  to  find,  that  the  liking  which  he  had 
taken  to  me  at  first  sensibly,  though  gradually,  increased  during 
our  succeeding  interviews.  He  made  use  of  me  to  acquire  in- 
formation, and  conversed  freely  upon  the  business  of  his  go- 
vernment, and  upon  matters  connected  with  his  mission. 

Having  all  my  life  been  taken  up  in  making  my  own  fortune, 
I  had  turned  my  mind  but  little  to  public  events.  Of  the 
nations  of  the  world  I  scarcely  knew  any  but  my  own  and  the 
Turks.  By  name  only  the  Chinese,  the  Indians,  the  Aflfghans, 
the  Tartars,  the  Curds,  and  the  Arabs  were  known  to  me  ;  and 
of  the  Africans  I  had  some  knowledge,  having  seen  different 
specimens  of  them  as  slaves  in  our  honses.  Of  the  Franks, — 
3-2* 


3t8  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

the  Russians  (if  such  they  may  be  called)  were  those  of  whom 
we  had  the  most  knowledge  in  Persia,  and  I  had  also  heard  of 
the  Ingliz  and  the  Franciz.  When  I  reached  Constantinople, 
I  was  surprised  to  hear  that  many  more  Frank  nations  existed 
besides  the  three  above  mentioned ;  but  still,  occupied  with  my 
own  affairs,  I  acquired  but  little  knowledge  concerning  them. 

Now  that  I  was  thrown  into  the  ambassador's  society,  my 
ideas  took  a  new  turn,  and  hearing  matters  discussed  which  had 
never  even  reached  my  understanding,  I  became  more  inquisitive. 
He  seemed  pleased  to  have  found  in  me  one  who  took  interest 
in  his  views,  and  at  length  let  me  entirely  into  his  confidence. 

One  morning,  having  received  letters  from  his  court,  he  called 
me  to  him,  said  that  he  wished  for  some  private  conversation, 
and  accordingly  ordered  every  one  to  depart  from  before  him 
except  myself. 

He  made  me  sit,  and  then  in  a  low  voice  said,  "  Hajji,  I  have 
long  wished  to  speak  to  you.  Those  who  compose  my  suite, 
between  you  and  I,  do  not  possess  the  sort  of  understanding  I 
require.  'Tis  true,  they  are  Persians,  and  are  endowed  with 
more  wit  than  all  the  world  beside  ;  but  in  affairs  of  the  dowlet 
(the  state)  they  are  nothing,  and  rather  impede  than  forward 
the  business  upon  which  I  have  been  sent.  Now,  praise  be  to 
Allah  !  I  see  that  you  are  not  one  of  them.  You  are  much  of 
a  man,  one  who  has  seen  the  world  and  its  business,  and  some- 
thing may  come  from  out  of  your  hands.  You  are  a  man  who 
can  make  play  under  another's  beard,  and  suck  the  marrow  out 
of  an  affair  without  touching  its  outside.  Such  I  am  in  want 
of,  and  if  you  will  devote  yourself  to  me,  and  to  our  Shah,  the 
King  of  Kings,  both  my  face  as  well  as  your  own  will  be  duly 
white  washed  ;  and,  by  the  blessings  of  our  good  destinies,  both 
our  heads  will  touch  the  skies." 

"  Whatever  is  of  my  strength,"  replied  I,  "is  at  your  service. 
I  am  your  slave  and  your  servant,  and  I  myself  will  place  my 
own  ear  into  your  hand.  Order  and  command  me  :  by  my 
head  and  eyes,  I  am  ready." 

"  Perhaps  you  have  heard  it  reported  in  the  world,"  said  he, 
"  that  the  object  of  my  mission  is  to  buy  women  slaves  for  the 
Shah,  to  see  them  instructed  in  dancing,  music,  and  embroidery, 
and  to  purchase  spangled  silks  and  other  luxuries  for  the  royal 
harem ;  but  that  is  of  course  a  blind  for  the  multitude.  I  am 
not  an  ambassador  for  such  miserable  purposes  :  no,  my  busi- 
ness is  of  greater  import ;  and  our  king,  whose  penetration  is 
as  searching  as  lightning  itself,  does  not  select  men  to  transact 
his  affairs  without  very  substantial  reasons.  He  has  chosen 
me,. and  that's  enough.      Now  hearken  to  what  I  shall  tell  you. 


STATE   SECRETS.  3T9 

"But  a  few  months  ago  an  ambassador  from  Europe  arrived 
at  the  Gate  of  Empire,  Tehran,  and  said  he  was  sent  by  a  cer- 
tain Boonapoort,  calling  himself  Emperor  of  the  French  nation, 
to  bring  a  letter  and  presents  to  the  Shah.  He  exhibited  full 
powers,  by  which  his  words  were  to  be  looked  upon  as  his 
master's,  and  his  actions  as  his  actions ;  and  he  also  affirmed, 
that  he  had  full  instructions  to  make  a  treaty.  He  held  him- 
self very  high  indeed,  and  talked  of  all  other  nations  of  Franks 
as  dirt  under  his  feet,  and  not  worth  even  a  name.  He  pro- 
mised to  make  the  Russians  restore  their  conquests  in  Georgia 
to  us,  to  put  the  Shah  in  possession  of  Teflis,  Baadkoo,  Der- 
bent,  and  of  all  which  belonged  to  Persia  in  former  times.  He 
said,  that  he  would  conquer  India  for  us,  and  drive  the  Eng- 
lish from  it ;  and,  in  short,  whatever  we  asked  he  promised  to 
be  ready  to  grant. 

"Now,  'tis  true,  we  had  heard  of  the  French  before,  and 
knew  that  they  made  good  cloth  and  rich  brocades ;  but  we 
never  heard  that  they  could  do  all  this  ambassador  proclaimed. 

"Something  we  had  heard  also  of  their  attacking  Egypt,  for 
coffee  and  khenna  had  become  dear  in  consequence  ;  and  it  was 
in  the  recollection  of  one  of  our  old  khans  of  the  Seffi  family, 
that  an  ambassador  from  a  certain  Shah  Louis  of  France  had 
been  seen  at  the  court  of  Shah  Sultan  Hosein  ;  but  how  this 
Boonapoort  had  become  Shah,  not  a  single  man  in  Persia  could 
explain.  The  Armenian  merchants  who  travel  into  all  coun- 
tries, affirmed,  that  to  their  knowledge  such  a  person  in  fact 
did  exist,  and  that  he  was  a  great  breeder  of  disturbance  ;  and 
it  was  from  what  they  said  and  from  other  circumstances,  that 
the  Shah  agreed  to  receive  his  ambassador ;  but  whether  the 
papers  which  he  exhibited,  written  in  characters  that  no  one 
could  read,  were  true  or  false,  or  whether  all  be  said  was  to  the 
purpose  or  not,  who  was  to  say  ?  Our  viziers,  great  and  small, 
knew  nothing  of  the  matter ;  our  Shah,  who,  (may  Allah  pre- 
serve him !)  knows  everything  under  the  sun,  he  had  no  know- 
ledge of  it ;  and  excepting  one  Coja  Obed,  an  Armenian,  who 
had  been  to  Marsilia,  a  town  in  France,  where  he  had  been 
shut  up  in  a  prison  for  forty  days,*  and  one  Narses,  a  priest  of 
that  nation,  who  had  studied  in  a  convent  of  dervishes  some- 
where in  those  countries,  we  had  no  one  at  the  gate  of  the 
King  of  Kings  who  could  let  any  light  into  the  chambers  of 
our  brain,  or  who  could  in  the  least  explain  whether  this  Boon- 
apoort or  his  representative  were  impostors  or  not, — whether 

*  Quarantine,  wc  presume,  is  here  meant. 


380  THE   ADVENTURES   OF   HA.UI    BABA. 

they  were  come  to  take  our  caps  from  off  our  heads,  or  to 
clothe  us  with  the  kalaats  of  good  fortune. 

"However,  we  were  not  very  long  in  doubt;  for  when  the 
English  infidels  who  trade  between  India  and  Persia,  some  of 
whom  reside  at  Abusheher,  heard  of  the  arrival  of  this  ambas- 
sador, they  immediately  sent  off  messengers,  letters,  and  an 
agent,  to  endeavour  to  impede  the  reception  of  this  Frenchman, 
and  made  such  extraordinary  efforts  to  prevent  his  success,  that 
we  soon  discovered  much  was  to  be  got  between  the  rival  dogs. 

"  '  By  my  crown,'  exclaimed  the  Shah,  '  all  this  cometh 
from  the  ascendant  of  my  good  stars.  Here  sit  I  upon  my 
throne,  whilst  the  curs  of  uncleanness  come  from  the  north  and 
the  south,  from  the  east  and  west,  bringing  me  vast  presents 
for  the  liberty  of  fighting  and  quarreling  at  the  foot  of  it.  In 
the  name  of  the  Prophet,  let  them  approach  1' 

"  When  I  left  the  imperial  gate,  an  ambassador  from  the 
English  was  expected,  and  the  letters  which  I  have  just  received 
are  full  of  the  circumstances  of  his  proposed  reception,  and  the 
negotiations  on  foot  concerning  it, — but  the  Shah  cannot  well 
enter  upon  them  before  he  hears  from  me ;  because,  having 
been  informed  tliat  specimens  of  all  the  different  European  na- 
tions were  to  be  seen  at  Constantinople,  each  of  whom  had  an 
ambassador  there,  he  in  his  wisdom,  has  judged  it  expedient  to 
despatch  me  hither,  to  obtain  all  the  information  of  which  we 
are  so  much  in  want,  to  clear  up  every  doubt  that  exists  in 
Persia  about  the  French  and  English,  and  if  possible  to  find 
out  whether  all  they  say  of  themselves  be  true  or  false. 

"  Now  Hajji,"  said  the  ambassador,  "I  am  only  one  man, 
and  this  is  a  business,  as  I  have  found  out,  sufficient  for  fifty. 
The  Franks  are  composed  of  many,  many  nations.  As  fast  as 
I  hear  of  one  hog,  another  begins  to  grunt,  and  then  another 
and  another,  until  I  find  that  there  is  a  whole  herd  of  them. 
As  I  told  you  before,  those  who  compose  my  suite  are  not  men 
to  help  me  in  research,  and  I  have  cast  my  eyes  upon  you. 
From  your  exertions  I  expect  much.  You  must  become  ac- 
quainted with  some  infidels ;  you  understand  the  Turkish  lan- 
guage, and  they  will  be  able  to  inform  you  of  much  that  we 
want  to  know.  I  will  furnish  you  with  a  copy  of  the  Shah's 
instructions  to  me  upon  that  head,  which  you  will  lock  up  of 
course  in  the  secret  corners  of  your  brain,  and  which  will  be 
your  guide  upon  what  we  wish  to  acquire.  And  until  that  be 
done,  go,  sit  in  a  corner,  and  make  one  long  and  deep  thought 
upon  the  plan  of  operations  that  we  ought  to  pursue. 

Upon  this  he  dismissed  me,  and  I  left  him  with  new  prospects 
of  advancement  in  the  career  of  life. 


CHAPTER  LXXY. 

FIRST    ESSAYS    IN    PUBLIC    LIFE, 

As  soon  as  the  ambassador  had  furnished  me  with  an  extract 
of  his  vakayeh  nameh,  or  his  instructions,  I  walked  out  to  an 
adjacent  cemetery  to  read  it  over  undisturbed.  I  kept  the 
paper  carefully  folded  in  the  lining  of  my  cap,  and  as  it  was  my 
first  initiation  into  public  business,  the  principal  contents  of  it 
have  remained  in  my  memory  through  life. 

The  ambassador  was,  in  the  first  place,  enjoined  to  discover, 
in  truth,  what  was  the  extent  of  that  country  called  Frangistan, 
and  if  the  Shah,  known  in  Persia  by  the  name  of  the  Shahi 
Frank,  or  king  of  the  Franks,  actually  existed,  and  which  was 
his  capital. 

In  the  second  place,  he  was  ordered  to  discover  how  many 
lis  or  tribes  of  Franks  there  were ;  whether  they  were  divided 
into  Shehernisheens  and  Sahranisheens,  inhabitants  of  towns 
and  dwellers  in  the  desert,  as  in  Persia ;  who  were  their  khans, 
and  how  governed. 

Thirdly,  to  inquire  what  was  the  extent  of  France,  whether 
it  was  a  tribe  of  the  Franks,  or  a  separate  kingdom,  and  who  was 
the  infidel  Boonapoort,  calling  himself  Emperor  of  that  country. 

In  the  fourth  place,  his  attention  was  to  be  turned  particu- 
larly to  what  regarded  the  Ingliz,  who  had  long  been  known  in 
Persia,  by  means  of  their  broadcloth,  watches,  and  penknives. 
He  was  to  inquire  what  description  of  infidels  they  were, 
whether  they  lived  in  an  island  all  the  year  round,  without  pos- 
sessing any  kislah  (warm  region)  to  migrate  to  in  the  summer, 
and  whether  most  of  them  did  not  inhabit  ships  and  eat  fish  ; 
and  if  they  did  live  there,  how  it  happened  that  they  had  ob- 
tained possession  of  India  ;  and  he  was  to  clear  up  that  question 
so  long  agitated  in  Persia,  how  England  and  London  were 
connected,  whether  England  was  part  of  London,  or  London 
part  of  England  ? 

In  the  fifth  place,  he  was  commanded  to  bring  positive  in- 
telligence of  Avho  and  what  the  Goompani  was,  of  whom  so 
much  was  said, — how  connected  with  England, — whether  an 
old  woman,  as  sometimes  reported,  or  whether  it  consisted  of 
many  old  women  ;  and  whether  the  account  which  was  credited 
of  its  never  dying,  like  the  lama  of  Thibet,  were  not  a  fable. 

(381) 


382  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

He  was  also  enjoined  to  clear  up  certain  unintelligible  accounts 
of  the  manner  in  which  England  was  governed. 

In  the  sixth  place,  some  positive  information  concerning 
Tengi  duniah,  or  the  New  World,  was  much  wanted,  and  he 
was  to  devote  part  of  his  attention  to  the  subject. 

Lastly,  he  was  ordered  to  write  a  general  history  of  the 
Franks,  to  inquire  what  would  be  the  easiest  method  of  making 
them  renounce  pork  and  wine,  and  converting  them  over  to 
the  true  and  only  faith,  that  is,  to  the  religion  of  Islam. 

Having  well  pondered  over  this  paper,  I  considered  that  it 
would  be  easy  to  get  it  answered  through  the  means  of  a  liatik 
or  scribe,  attached  to  the  then  Reis  Effendi,  and  with  whom, 
during  the  short  gleam  of  splendor  and  riches  which  had  shone 
upon  me,  I  had  formed  a  great  intimacy.  I  knew  the  coffee- 
house he  frequented,  and  the  hour  he  was  most  likely  to  be 
found  there ;  and  although  he  was  not  much  addicted  to  talking, 
yet  I  hoped,  as  he  sipped  his  coffee  and  smoked  his  pipe, 
(particularly  if  I  treated  him,)  his  heart  might  expand  and  I 
might  obtain  his  real  opinion. 

Full  of  this  idea,  I  immediately  imparted  it  to  the  ambassador, 
who  seemed  so  delighted,  that  he  at  once  did  me  the  honour  to 
take  all  the  merit  to  himself. 

"  Did  I  not  tell  you  so  ?"  exclaimed  he  ;  "  did  I  not  say  that 
you  were  a  man  of  ingenuity  ?  Acknowledge  then,  that  I  am 
not  without  penetration  ;  own,  that  it  requires  a  sharp  discern- 
ment to  discover  at  once  where  abilities  lie ;  and  that  had  it 
not  been  for  me,  we  should  never  have  discovered  this  katib, 
who  is  to  tell  us  everything,  and  thus  fulfil  the  instructions  of 
the  Asylum  of  the  Universe." 

He  then  empowered  me,  if  I  found  it  necessary,  to  promise 
him  a  present,  by  which  means,  should  there  be  any  deficiency 
in  his  information,  he  might  perhaps  succeed  in  obtaining  it 
from  the  fountain  head,  namely,  the  Reis  Effendi  himself. 

I  went  to  the  coffee-house  at  the  proper  time,  and  there 
found  my  friend.  I  approached  him  with  great  demonstrations 
of  friendship  ;  and  calling  to  the  waiting  man,  ordered  some 
best  Yemen  coffee,  which  was  served  up  as  we  sat  one  opposite 
the  other.  In  the  course  of  conversation  he  pulled  out  his 
watch,  when  I  seized  the  opportunity  of  introducing  ray  subject. 

"  That  is  a  European  watch,"  said  I,  "  is  it  not  ?" 

"  Yes,  truly,"  said  he ;  "  there  are  none  in  the  world  beside." 

"  Wonderful,"  answered  I, — those  Franks  must  be  an  ex- 
traordinary people." 

"Yes,"  said  he,  "but  they  are  Kafirs,"  (infidels.) 

"  In  the  name  of  Allah,"  taking  my  pipe  from  my  mouth 


FIRST    ESSAYS    IN    PUBLIC    LIFE.  383 

and  putting  it  into  his,  "  tell  me  something  respecting  them. 
This  Frangistan,  is  it  a  large  country  ?  Where  does  its  king 
reside  ?" 

"What  say  you,  friend  ?"  answered  he;  "a  large  country, 
do  you  ask  ?  A  large  country  indeed  it  is,  not  governed  by 
one  king  alone,  but  by  many  kings." 

"  But  I  have  heard,"  said  I,  "  it  is  composed  of  many  tribes, 
all  having  different  names  and  different  chiefs  ;  still  being,  in 
fact,  but  one  nation." 

"  You  may  call  them  one  nation  if  you  choose,"  said  he, 
"  and  perhaps  such  is  the  case,  for  they  all  shave  their  chins,  let 
their  hair  grow,  and  wear  hats, — they  all  wear  tight  clothes, — 
they  all  drink  wine,  eat  pork,  and  do  not  believe  in  the  blessed 
Moharaed.  But  it  is  plain  they  are  governed  by  many  kings ; 
see  the  numerous  ambassadors  who  flock  here  to  rub  their  fore- 
heads against  the  threshold  of  our  Imperial  Gate.  So  many 
of  these  dogs  are  here,  that  it  is  necessary  to  put  one's  trust  in 
the  mercies  of  Allah,  such  is  the  pollution  they  create." 

"  In  the  name  of  the  Prophet  speak  on,"  said  I,  "  and  I  will 
write. — Praise  be  to  Allah  !  you  are  a  man  of  wisdom."  Upon 
which,  whilst  I  took  out  ray  inkstand  from  my  girdle,  and 
composed  myself  to  write,  he  stroked  his  beard,  and  curled  the 
tips  of  his  moustaches,  recollecting  within  himself  who  were  the 
principal  nations  of  Europe. 

He  prefaced  his  information  by  saying,  "  but  why  trouble 
yourself?  They  all  are  dogs  alike, — all  sprung  from  one 
dunghill ;  and  if  there  be  truth  in  Heaven,  and  we  believe  our 
blessed  Koran,  all  will  burn  hereafter  in  one  common  furnace. 
But,  stop,"  said  he,  counting  his  fingers;  "in  the  first  place, 
there  is  the  Nems^  Giaour,  the  Austrian  infidel,  our  neighbors  ; 
a  quiet,  smoking  race,  who  send  us  cloth,  steel,  and  glassware, 
and  are  governed  by  a  Shah,  springing  from  the  most  ancient 
race  of  unbelievers  ;  he  sends  ns  a  representative  to  be  fed  and 
clothed. 

"  Then  come  those  heretics  of  Muscovites,  a  most  unclean 
and  accursed  generation.  Their  country  is  so  large,  that  one  ex- 
tremity is  said  to  be  buried  in  eternal  snows,  whilst  its  other  is 
raging  with  heat.  They  are  truly  our  enemy ;  and  when  we 
kill  them,  we  cry  Mashallah,  praise  be  to  God  !  Men  and  women 
govern  there  by  turns ;  but  they  resemble  us  inasmuch  as  they 
put  their  sovereigns  to  death  almost  as  frequently  as  we  do. 

"  Again,  there  is  a  Prussian  infidel,  who  sends  us  an 
ambassador,  Allah  only  knows  why ;  for  we  are  in  no  need  of 
such  vermin :  but,  you  well  know,  that  the  Imperial  Gate  is 


384  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

open  to  the  dog  as  well  as  the  true  believer  :  for  the  rain  of 
Providence  descends  equally  upon  both. 

"  Who  shall  I  say  next,  in  the  name  of  the  Prophet  ?  Let 
us  see  :  there  are  two  northern  unbelievers,  living  at  the  ex- 
tremity of  all  things, — the  Danes  and  Swedes.  They  are  small 
tribes,  scarcely  to  be  accounted  among  men,  although  it  is  said 
the  Shah  of  Denmark  is  the  most  despotic  of  the  kings  of 
Franks,  not  having  even  janizaries  to  dispute  his  will ;  whilst 
the  Swedes  are  famous  for  a  madman,  who  once  waged  a 
desperate  war  in  Europe;  caring  little  in  what  country  he 
fought,  provided  only  that  he  did  fight ;  and  who,  in  one  of  his 
acts  of  desperation,  made  his  way  into  our  borders,  where,  like 
a  wild  beast,  he  was  at  length  brought  to  bay,  and  taken 
prisoner.  Owing  to  this  circumstance  we  were  introduced  to 
the  knowledge  of  his  nation;  or  otherwise,  by  the  blessing  of 
Allah,  we  should  never  have  known  that  it  even  existed. 

"  I  will  mention  one  more,  called  Flemengs,  infidels,  dull, 
heavy,  and  boorish  ;  who  are  amongst  the  Franks  what  the  Ar- 
menians are  amongst  us — having  no  ideas  beyond  those  of 
thrift,  and  no  ambition  beyond  that  of  riches.  They  used  to 
send  us  a  sleepy  ambassador  to  negotiate  the  introduction  of 
their  cheeses,  butter,  and  salt  fish ;  but  their  government  has 
been  destroyed  since  the  appearance  of  a  certain  Booiiapoort, 
who  (let  them  and  the  patron  of  all  unbelief  have  their  due)  is 
in  truth  a  man  ;  one  whom  we  need  not  be  ashamed  to  class 
with  the  Persian  Nadar,  and  with  our  own  Suleiman." 

Here  I  stopped  the  Katib  in  his  narrative,  and  catching  at 
the  name,  I  exclaimed,  "  Boonapoort,  Boonapoort — that  is  the 
word  I  wanted !  Say  something  concerning  him  ;  for  I  have 
heard  he  is  a  rare  and  a  daring  infidel." 

"What  can  I  say,"  said  my  companion,  "except  that  he 
once  was  a  man  of  nothing,  a  mere  soldier ;  and  now  he  is  the 
Sultan  of  an  immense  nation,  and  gives  the  law  to  all  the 
Franks  ?  He  did  his  best  endeavors  to  molest  us  also,  by 
taking  Egypt,  and  sent  innumerable  armies  to  conquer  it ;  but 
he  had  omitted  to  try  the  edge  of  a  true  believer's  sword  ere 
he  set  out,  and  was  obliged  to  retreat,  after  having  frightened 
a  few  Mamelukes,  and  driven  the  Bedouins  into  their  deserts." 

"But  is  there  not  a  certain  tribe  of  infidels  called  luglis?" 
said  I,  "the  most  unaccountable  people  on  earth,  who  live  in 
an  island,  and  make  penknives  ?" 

"  Yes,  truly,"  said  the  Katib,  "they,  amongst  the  Franks, 
are  those  who  for  centuries  have  most  rubbed  their  heads 
agiiinst  the  imperial  threshold,  and  who  have  found  most 
favor  in  the  sight  of  our  great  aud  magnanimous  Sultan.    They 


FIRST   ESSAYS   IN   PUBLIC   LIFE.  385 

are  powerful  in  ships ;  and  in  watches  and  broadcloth  un- 
rivaled." 

"  But  what  have  you  heard  of  their  government  ?"  said  I ;  "is 
it  not  composed  of  something  besides  a  king  ?" 

"Yes,"  returned  he,  "you  have  been  rightly  informed;  but 
how  can  you  and  I  understand  the  humors  of  such  madmen  ? 
They  have  a  Shah,  'tis  true ;  but  it  is  a  farce  to  call  him  by 
that  title.  They  feed,  clothe,  and  lodge  him;  give  him  a 
yearly  income,  surround  him  by  all  the  state  and  form  of  a 
throne ;  and  mock  him  with  as  fine  words  and  with  as  high- 
sounding  titles  as  we  give  our  sovereigns  ;  but  a  common  Aga 
of  the  Janizaries  has  more  power  than  he ;  he  does  not  dare 
even  to  give  the  bastinado  to  one  of  his  own  viziers,  be  his 
fault  what  it  may ;  whereas  the  Aga,  if  expedient,  could  crop 
the  ears  of  half  the  city,  and  still  receive  nothing  but  reward 
and  encouragement. 

"  Then  they  have  certain  houses  full  of  madmen,  who  meet 
half  the  year  round  for  the  purpose  of  quarrelling.  If  one  set 
says  white,  the  other  cries  black  ;  and  they  throw  more  words 
away  in  settling  a  common  question  than  would  suffice  one  of 
our  muftis  during  a  whole  reign.  In  short,  nothing  can  be 
settled  in  the  state,  be  it  only  whether  a  rebellious  Aga  is  to 
have  his  head  cut  off  and  his  property  confiscated,  or  some  such 
trifle,  until  these  people  have  wrangled.  Then  what  are  we  to 
believe  ?  Allah,  the  Almighty  and  Allwise,  to  some  nations 
giveth  wisdom,  and  to  others  folly  I  Let  us  bless  Him  and  our 
Prophet,  that  we  are  not  born  to  eat  the  miseries  of  the  poor 
English  infidels,  but  can  smoke  our  pipes  in  quiet  on  the  shores 
of  our  own  peaceful  Bosphorus  1" 

"  Strange,  strange  things,  you  tell  me,"  said  I,  "and  had  I 
not  heard  them,  I  could  not  believe  something  more,  which  is, 
that  all  India  belongs  to  them,  and  that  it  is  governed  by  old 
women.     Do  you  know  that  fact  ?" 

"  I  shall  not  be  surprised  to  hear  of  anything  they  do," 
answered  he,  "so  mad  are  they  generally  reported  to  be;  but 
that  India  is  governed  by  infidel  old  women,  that  has  never 
yet  reached  our  ears.  Perhaps  it  is  so.  God  knows,"  con- 
tinued he,  musing,  "for  mad  people  do  wonderful  things." 

After  a  pause,  "Now,"  said  I,  "have  I  learnt  all,  or  are 
there  more  unbelievers  ?  By  your  beard,  tell  me ;  for  who 
would  have  thought  that  the  world  was  so  composed  ?" 

He  reflected  for  some  time,  and  said,  "  0  yes,  I  forgot  to 

mention  two  or  three  nations  ;  but,    in   truth,    they   are   not 

worthy  of  notice.     There  are  Spanish,  Portuguese,  and  Italian 

infidels,  who  eat  their  swine,  and  worship   their   image  after 

33 


386  THE   ADVENTURES    OF    HAJJI    BABA. 

their  own  manner ;  but  who,  in  fact,  are  nothing  even  amongst 
the  Franks.  The  first  is  known  to  us  by  their  patakas,  (dollars,) 
the  second  sends  us  some  Jews ;  and  the  third  imports  differ- 
ent sorts  of  dervishes,  who  pay  considerable  sums  into  the  im- 
perial treasury  for  building  churches,  and  for  the  privilege  of 
ringing  bells.  I  must  also  mention  the  papa,  (pope,)  the 
Caliph  of  the  Franks,  who  lives  in  Italia,  and  does  not  cease 
his  endeavors  to  make  converts  to  his  faith ;  but  we  are  more 
than  even  with  him,  for  we  convert  the  infidels  in  much  greater 
proportion  than  they,  notwithstanding  all  the  previous  pain 
which  man  must  suffer  before  he  is  accepted  for  a  true  be- 
liever." 

"  One  more  question  I  must  ask,"  said  I,  "  and  then  I  am 
satisfied.  Can  yon  tell  me  anything  positive  about  Tengi 
duniah,  the  New  World  :  for  I  have  heard  so  many  contradic- 
tory reports,  that  my  brain  is  bewildered  ?  How  do  they  get 
at  it,  under  ground,  or  how  ?" 

"  We  have  not  had  many  dealings  with  it,"  said  the  Katib, 
"  and  therefore  know  not  much  of  the  matter  ;  but  this  is  true, 
that  one  can  get  there  by  ship,  because  ships  belonging  to  the 
New  World  have  actually  been  seen  here.  They  are  all  infidels, 
my  friend,"  exclaimed  he,  with  a  sigh;  "all  infidels,  as  much 
as  those  of  the  old  world,  and,  by  the  blessing  of  Allah,  will 
all  grill  in  the  same  furnace." 

Finding  that  upon  this  subject  the  Katib  was  deficient,  I 
ceased  questioning ;  and  our  conversation  having  now  lasted 
a  long  time,  I  released  him  from  further  importunity,  by  call- 
ing for  more  coffee,  and  replenishing  our  pipes.  We  then 
separated,  not  without  mutual  promises  of  meeting  again. 


CHAPTER  LXXVI. 

HAJJI    BABA    WRITES   THE    HISTORY    OF   EUROPE. 

I  RETURNED  to  my  ambassadoT  full  of  the  information  I  had 
acquired,  and  all-joyous  at  the  success  which  had  attended  my 
first  essay  in  diplomatic  life.  He  was  delighted  at  the  memoir 
I  had  drawn  up  from  the  materials  furnished  me  by  the  Katib, 
and  as  long  as  we  remained  at  Constantinople  daily  sent  me 
in  search  of  further  particulars,  until  we  both  thought  ourselves 
sufficiently  in  force  to  be  able  to  draw  up  a  general  History  of 


HAJJI    BABA    WRITES    THE    HISTORY    OF    EUROPE.  38T 

Europe,  which  the  Centre  of  the  Universe  in  his  instructions  to 
the  ambassador  had°t)rdered  him  to  present  on  his  return.  Most 
assiduously  did  I  apply  myself  in  composing  this  precious  mor- 
sel of  history.  I  made  a  rough  draft,  which  was  submitted  to 
the  correction  of  my  chief,  and  when  he  had  seasoned  its  con- 
tents to  the  palate  of  the  King  of  Kings,  softening  down  those 
parts  which  might  appear  improbable,  and  adding  to  those  not 
sufficiently  strong,  he  delivered  it  over  to  a  clerk,  who  in  a  fair 
hand  transcribed  the  whole,  until  at  length  a  very  handsome 
volume  was  produced.  It  was  duly  bound,  ornamented,  and 
inserted  in  a  silk  and  muslin  bag,  and  then  the  ambassador 
conceived  it  might  be  fit  to  be  placed  in  the  hands  of  the 
Shah. 

Mirza  Firouz  having  now,  as  he  conceived,  accomplished  the 
objects  of  his  mission,  prepared  to  return,  and  announced  his 
intention  not  only  of  taking  me  with  him,  but  also  of  continuing 
me  in  the  employ  of  the  government,  as  soon  as  we  should 
reach  Tehran ;  "for  "said  he;  "a  person  so  well  acquainted 
with  the  interests  of  the  Franks  will  be  of  great  use  in  treating 
with  the  infidel  ambassadors  now  in  Persia." 

He  could  not  have  devised  a  plan  better  suited  to  my  wishes  ; 
for  after  my  cruel  treatment  by  the  Turks,  I  hated  everything 
relating  to  them.  Their  city  was  become  odious  to  me,  and 
whenever  I  thought  upon  Shekerleb  my  heart  swelled  with  rage. 
Much  time  had  now  elapsed  since  my  affair  with  the  chief  priest 
of  Tehran.  The  Mollah  Nadan,  so  I  had  heard,  had  long  ago 
been  blown  from  the  mouth  of  a  mortar,  and  the  widow,  whom 
I  left  in  the  hands  of  the  Curds,  had  never  returned  to  Persia. 
Therefore  I  concluded  I  might  show  myself  in  all  safety,  for  I 
argued  thus :  should  I  even  be  recognized,  still  who  would  ven- 
ture to  molest  me,  powerfully  protected  as  I  should  be  by  men 
in  office  ?  The  chief  executioner  had  recovered  possession  of 
his  horse  and  furniture,  when  the  unfortunate  Nadan  had  been 
seized  ;  and  there  was  every  reason  to  suppose  that  Abdul  Kerim 
had  shared  the  fate  of  his  mistress,  the  chief  priest's  widow,  for 
he  had  no  more  been  heard  of;  so  I  did  not  fear  that  he  would 
call  upon  me  to  refund  the  hundred  tomauns.  What  had  I  then 
to  apprehend  on  returning  to  Tehran  ?  Nothing  that  I  could 
foresee  ;  and  if  once  it  were  known  that  I  was  a  servant  of  the 
Shah's,  even  being  a  thousand  times  more  criminal  than  I  was  in 
fact,  I  might  put  my  cap  on  one  side,  and  walk  all  over  the  em- 
pire with  impunity. 

Fortified  by  these  reflections,  I  made  my  preparations  with 
alacrity  to  accompany  the  ambassador.  But  previous  to  our 
departure,  I  determined  upon  visiting  my  countrymen  in  the 


388  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

caravanserai,  where  with  a  better  chance  of  success  I  now  might 
give  myself  those  airs  of  importance  which  had  succeeded  so  ill 
at  ray  last  exhibition.  Having  taken  some  trouble  to  make  it 
well  understood  that  I  was  attached  to  the  embassy,  I  no  longer 
dreaded  their  contempt ;  and  such  is  the  respect  that  one  in- 
vested with  that  character  is  sure  to  inspire,  that  on  this  occasion 
I  had  no  reason  to  complain  of  any  want  of  attention.  Every 
woi'd  addressed  to  me  was  now  prefixced  with.  By  your  favor. 
By  your  condescension.  May  your  kindness  never  be  less ;  and 
compliments  which  never  ended,  interlarded  all  the  fine  dis- 
courses I  heard.  To  hear  them,  nobody  could  have  ever  sup- 
posed that  I  was  the  same  person  whom  not  two  months  before 
they  had  laughed  to  scorn  ;  on  the  contrary,  one  ignorant  of 
the  circumstance  would  have  set  me  down  for  a  personage  upon 
whom  the  issues  of  life  and  death  depended.  But  when  I  took 
my  leave  of  old  Osman,  I  found  him  unchanged,  and  every 
word  he  spoke,  showed  that  his  affection  for  the  son  of  the  bar- 
ber of  Ispahan  was  the  feeling  which  ever  actuated  his  conduct 
towards  me.  "  Go,  my  son,"  said  he,  as  he  parted  from  me, 
"  whether  you  be  a  prisoner  with  the  Turcomans,  or  a  priest, 
or  a  seller  of  pipe-sticks,  or  a  Turkish  Aga,  or  a  Persian  Mirza ; 
be  you  what  you  may,  I  shall  always  put  up  my  prayers  for 
your  prosperity,  and  may  Allah  attend  your  steps  wherever 
you  go." 

Having  made  his  visits  of  ceremony,  and  taken  his  leave  of 
the  Turkish  authorities,  the  ambassador  left  Scutari,  accom- 
panied by  a  large  company  of  his  own  countrymen,  who  con- 
ducted him  about  one  parasang  on  the  road  to  Persia,  and  then 
received  their  dismissal.  Our  journey  was  propitious,  and 
nothing  took  place  in  it  worthy  of  notice  from  the  day  of  our 
departure  until  our  arrival  in  Persia.  At  Erivan  we  heard  the 
news  of  the  day,  though  but  imperfectly ;  but  at  Tabriz,  the 
seat  of  Abba  Mirza's  government,  we  were  initiated  into  the 
various  questions  which  then  agitated  the  country  and  the  Court. 
The  principal  one  was  the  rivalry  between  the  French  and 
English  ambassadors ;  the  object  of  the  former,  who  had 
already  been  received  by  the  Shah,  being  to  keep  away  the 
latter,  who  had  not  yet  reached  the  foot  of  the  throne. 

Various  were  the  anecdotes  related  of  the  exertions  made  by 
them  to  attain  their  ends,  and  the  whole  of  Persia  was  thrown 
into  astonishment  upon  seeing  infidels  come  so  far  from  their 
own  countries,  at  so  much  trouble  and  expense,  to  quarrel  in 
the  face  of  a  whole  nation  of  true  believers,  who  were  sure  to 
despise,  to  deride,  and  to  take  them  in. 

The  Frenchman,  by  way  of  enforcing  his  demands,  constantly 


HAJJI    BABA    WRITES    THE    HISTORY    OF    EUROPE.  389 

brought  forwards  the  power  of  his  own  sovereign,  his  greatness 
and  preponderance  over  all  the  states  of  Europe,  and  did  not 
cease  to  extol  the  immense  numbers  of  troops  he  could  bring 
into  the  field. 

To  this  he  was  answered,  "  That  may  be  very  true ;  but  what  is 
that  to  us?  Whole  empires  intervene,  and  therefore  what 
affinity  can  there  be  between  France  and  Persia  ?" 

"But,"  said  the  Frenchman,  "we  want  to  conquer  India 
from  the  English,  and  we  wish  to  have  an  open  road  through 
your  territories." 

"What  is  that  to  us?"  again  said  the  Shah:  "you  may 
want  India,  but  we  are  in  no  way  anxious  to  entertain  your 
troops." 

"But  we  will  conquer  Georgia  for  you,  put  you  in  possession 
of  Teflis,  and  secure  you  from  further  molestation  from  the 
Russians." 

"  That  is  another  case,"  said  the  Shah  ;  "  when  once  we  see 
the  effects  of  your  interference,  and  hear  that  there  are  no  more 
Russians  on  this  side  the  Caucasus,  we  will  treat  with  you  ;  until 
then  we  can  allow  no  passage  through  our  territories  ;  nor  break 
with  our  old  friends  the  English." 

On  the  other  hand,  the  English  said,  "  The  French  can  have 
no  other  object  in  coming  to  Persia  than  to  molest  us ;  we  require 
that  you  send  them  away. 

"  How  1"  said  the  Shah,  "  we  cannot  do  that ;  for  that  would  be 
against  the  laws  of  hospitality.  The  gate  of  our  palace  is  open 
to  every  one." 

"But,"  urged  the  English,  "you  must  either  retain  one  or  the 
other — and  must  decide  between  us.  Either  agree  to  be  our 
friends  and  expel  the  French,  or  make  up  your  minds  to  receive 
us  as  enemies." 

"  Why  should  we  make  ourselves  enemies  to  please  you  ?  We 
want  to  be  friends  with  all  the  world." 

"But,"  continued  the  English,  "we  will  help  and  strengthen 
you,  and  give  you  money." 

"  0  I  that  is  another  case,"  said  the  Shah ;  "  tell  me  how  much, 
and  then  all  may  be  done." 

Such  was  nearly  the  state  of  things  when  we  left  Tabriz,  and 
as  my  ambassador  was  expected  with  impatience  at  Tehran,  we 
did  not  tarry  long  with  the  prince  royal,  but  prosecuted  our 
journey  with  all  despatch. 

On  the  morning  of  our  arrival  at  Sultanieh,  on  the  road  from 
Tehran,  we  discovered  a  long  train  of  horsemen  with  their  bag- 
gage, whom  we  could  make  out  were  not  Persians,  and  whom  as 
they  approached  we  saw  were  Franks.  They  were  accompanied 
33* 


390  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BAB  A. 

by  a  mehmander,  an  officer  from  the  Shah,  who  informed  ns,  that 
this  was  the  French  embassy  on  its  return,  who  it  seems  had 
been  politely  requested  to  take  its  leave  ;  and  it  was  moreover 
added,  that  the  English  ambassabor  would  very  shortly  take  its 
place. 

This  at  once  explained  how  matters  stood  at  court,  and  tha<- 
between  the  rival  bidders  for  his  majesty's  favor,  the  King  of 
Kings  had  come  to  a  good  market.  My  ambassador  was  rather 
surprised  how  such  a  determination  could  have  been  taken 
previous  to  his  arrival,  fraught  as  he  was  with  important  in- 
formation upon  all  the  nations  of  Europe ;  but  every  difficulty 
is  easily  explained  away  when  money  is  permitted  to  exert 
its  eloquence,  particularly  if  one  recollects  the  words  of  the 
Sheikh— 

Let  money  only  apppar,  and  every  head  is  prostrate, 

'Tis  thus,  the  heaviest  weight  in  the  scales  lowers  the  iron  beam. 

We  were  happy  to  have  an  opportunity  of  observing  the 
manners  of  a  nation  about  whom  we  had  lately  heard  so  much, 
and  as  we  passed  the  day  together  in  the  same  place,  my 
chief  did  not  fail  to  make  himself  known  to  the  French  ambas- 
sador. 

We  expected  of  course  to  find  them  much  depressed  in  spirits, 
and  in  no  good  humor,  having  been  driven  as  it  were  from  the 
presence  of  the  Earth's  Centre ;  but  what  was  our  surprise  to 
remark  the  contrary  I  Never  did  Persia  see  such  a  company 
of  madmen.  They  were  singing,  dancing,  and  making  the  luti 
all  the  live-long  day.  They  all  talked  at  once,  one  louder  than 
the  other,  without  any  apparent  deference  to  rank,  for  all  seemed 
on  the  same  footing.  Without  in  the  least  respecting  our  car- 
pets, they  were  eternally  pacing  them  with  rapid  strides,  and, 
what  most  shocked  our  feelings,  spitting  upon  them.  As  I  now 
looked  upon  myself  in  some  measure  identified  with  the  Franks, 
considering  at  what  pains  I  had  lately  been  to  acquire  informa- 
tion concerning  them,  I  endeavored  to  discover  if  there  was  any 
affinity  between  their  language  and  ours ;  but  not  a  word  could 
I  comprehend.  However,  I  thought  to  have  made  some  pro- 
gress in  it,  by  recollecting  and  writing  down  the  words  in  their 
speech  which  most  frequently  occurred — one  was  sacre — the 
other  Paris — and  a  third  VEmpereur. 

On  the  whole  we  liked  them.  We  thought  to  discern  many 
points  of  similitude  between  them  and  ourselves ;  and  were  of 
opinion,  that  if  as  infidels  they  were  doomed  to  the  douzak  of 
hereafter,  even  there,  instead  of  moaning  over  and  deploring 


ENTERTAINS   A   FRANK   AMBASSADOR.  391 

their  lot,  they  would  still  be  found  in  the  same  happy  mood  we 
saw  them  at  Sultanieh. 

We  parted  the  following  morning,  they  laughing,  chattering, 
and  screaming  with  joy  ;  we,  full  of  anxiety  and  apprehension 
about  the  reception  with  which  our  ambassador  would  meet  from 
the  King  of  Bangs. 


CHAPTER  LXXVII. 

ENTERTAINS   A    FRANK    AMBASSADOR. 

My  chief,  the  Mirza  Firouz,  was  received  with  great  con- 
descension by  the  Shah,  who  was  pleased  at  the  ready  answers 
he  received  to  his  numerous  questions  concerning  the  nations 
of  Europe.  Never  was  man  better  adapted  to  fill  the  situation 
to  which  he  had  been  appointed  than  the  Mirza.  Every  ques- 
tion which  the  Shah  put  to  him  was  received  with  a  ready 
answer.  Ignorance  did  not  confound  him,  no  difficulty  stopt 
him.  The  words,  "  nemi  danum,^^  I  don't  know,  ever  a 
sin  in  the  hearing  of  a  king,  were  never  known  to  pass  his 
lips.  He  discoursed  upon  every  matter  with  a  confidence 
that  made  his  hearers  believe  that  whatever  he  said  must  be 
conclusive ;  and  upon  the  subject  of  Europeans,  to  listen  to 
him,  one  conld  not  but  suppose  he  had  been  born  and  bred 
among  them. 

As  I  was  known  to  have  been  employed  under  him  in  "seiz- 
ing news,"  as  the  phrase  goes,  concerning  Europe,  and  also  in 
writing  its  history,  I  in  some  measure  enjoyed  the  reputation  of 
being  learned  in  whatever  regarded  its  inhabitants.  Although 
my  assurance  was  nothing  equal  to  my  master's,  yet  I  managed 
to  answer  the  questions  put  to  me  with  tolerable  readiness, 
although,  in  so  doing,  I  was  obliged  to  be  very  circumspect  not 
to  commit  him,  therefore  I  passed  my  days  in  the  double  fear 
of  appearing  ignorant,  and  of  having  my  ears  cut  oif  in  case  I 
happened  to  be  too  wise.  However,  as  none  among  our  own 
countrymen  could  contradict  us,  we  were  listened  to  as  oracles, 
and  we  exemplified  what  the  poet  Al  Miei  has  so  justly  remarked  : 
"  That  in  the  country  of  the  dumb  the  sound  of  one  voice,  be  it 
even  that  of  an  ass,  would  be  called  harmony." 

The  English  Elchi  (ambassador)  had  reached  Tehran  a  few 
daj's  before  we  arrived  there,  and  his  reception  was  as  brilliant 
a.s  it  was  possible  for  a  dog  of  an  unbeliever  to  expect  from  our 


392  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

blessed  Prophet's  own  lieutenant.  Indeed  the  city  was  almost 
shocked  at  the  honors  paid  him,  and  some  of  the  most  violent 
of  our  mollahs  declared,  that  in  treating  a  Giaour  so  well,  we 
were  ourselves  in  some  measure  guilty  of  his  infidelity,  and  pre- 
paring our  own  damnation.  At  different  stations  on  the  road, 
the  throats  of  oxen  had  been  cut  before  his  horses'  feet,  in 
many  places  his  path  was  strewn  with  sugar  candy,  and  on  the 
day  of  his  entry  he  was  permitted  to  have  his  trumpets  sounded 
in  the  procession,  all  of  which  were  honors  that  conld  be  ex- 
acted by  none,  save  our  own  princes. 

Then  all  the  proper  attentions  of  hospitality  were  shown. 
The  house  of  a  khan  was  taken  from  him  and  given  to  the  am- 
bassador, and  whatever  furniture  was  wanting  was  demanded 
from  the  neighbors  and  placed  therein.  A  handsome  garden 
was  levied  upon  another,  and  added  to  the  house.  The  lord 
high  treasurer  was  commanded  to  feed  the  strangers  at  his  own 
expense  as  long  as  they  chose,  and  clothes  and  shawls  were  col- 
lected from  the  courtiers  and  servants  of  the  court,  for  the 
dresses  of  honor  which  it  is  the  custom  to  make  on  such  occa- 
sions. The  princes  and  noblemen  were  enjoined  to  send  the 
ambassador  presents,  and  a  general  command  issued  that  he 
and  his  suite  were  the  Shah's  guests,  and  that,  on  the  pain  of 
the  royal  anger,  nothing  but  what  was  agreeable  should  be  said 
to  them. 

All  these  attentions,  one  might  suppose,  would  be  more  than 
sufiicient  to  make  infidels  contented  with  their  lot ;  but,  on  the 
contrary,  when  the  subject  of  etiquette  came  to  be  discussed, 
interminable  difficulties  seemed  to  arise.  The  Elchi  was  the 
most  intractable  of  mortals.  First,  on  the  subject  of  sitting. 
On  the  day  of  his  audience  of  the  Shah,  he  would  not  sit  on 
the  ground,  but  insisted  upon  having  a  chair ;  then  the  chair 
was  to  be  placed  so  far,  and  no  further,  from  the  throne.  lu 
the  second  place,  of  shoes  :  he  insisted  upon  keeping  on  his 
shoes,  and  not  walking  bare-footed  upon  the  pavement ;  and  he 
would  not  even  put  on  our  red  cloth  stockings.  Thirdly,  with 
respect  to  hats  :  he  announced  his  intention  of  pulling  his  off 
to  make  his  bow  to  the  king,  although  we  assured  him  that  it 
was  an  act  of  great  indecorum  to  uncover  the  head.  And  then, 
on  the  article  of  dress,  a  most  violent  dispute  arose  :  at  first,  it 
was  intimated  that  proper  dresses  should  be  sent  to  him  and 
his  suite,  which  would  cover  their  persons  (now  too  indecently 
exposed)  so  effectually,  that  they  might  be  fit  to  be  seen  by  the 
king ;  but  this  proposal  he  rejected  with  derision.  He  said, 
that  he  would  appear  before  the  Shah  of  Persia  in  the  very 
same  dress  he  wore  when  before  his  own  sovereign.     Now,  as 


ENTERTAINS   A    PRANK   AMBASSADOR.  393 

there  was  not  a  Persian  who  had  ever  been  at  the  court  of  a 
Frank  king,  nobody  could  say  what  that  proper  dress  was ;  and, 
for  aught  we  knew,  the  Elchi  might  put  on  his  bed-gown  and 
night-cap  on  the  occasion.  This  was  a  difficulty  apparently 
not  to  be  overcome,  when,  turning  the  subject  over  in  my  own 
mind,  I  recollected  that  among  the  paintings  in  the  palace  of 
Forty  Pillars  at  Ispahan,  there  were  portraits  of  Europeans, 
who,  in  the  days  of  the  great  Shah  Abbas,  flocked  to  his  court, 
and  even  established  themselves  in  the  city.  In  particular,  I 
well  recollected  one  in  the  very  same  painting  in  which  Shah 
Abbas  himself  is  represented,  whose  dress  was  doubtless  the 
only  proper  costume  to  wear  before  a  crowned  head.  I  imme- 
diately suggested  this  to  my  master,  who  mentioned  it  to  the 
grand  vizier,  who  ordered  that  a  copy  of  it  should,  without  loss 
of  time,  be  made  by  the  best  artist  of  Ispahan,  and  sent  to 
Tehran. 

So  soon  as  it  arrived  it  was  officially  presented  to  the  Eng- 
lish Elchi,  with  a  notification  that  the  Shah  was  satisfied  to 
receive  him  in  the  same  dress  he  wore  before  his  own  sovereign, 
a  model  of  which  was  now  offered  to  him,  and  to  which  it  was 
expected  that  he  and  his  suite  would  strictly  conform. 

The  shouts  of  laughter  which  the  infidels  set  up,  upon  seeing 
the  picture  and  hearing  the  message,  are  not  to  be  described. 
They  asked  if  we  thompit  them  monkeys,  that  they  should  dress 
themselves  as  such  at  our  bidding,  and  were  so  disagreeably 
obstinate  in  their  resolution  of  keeping  to  their  own  mode  of 
attire,  that  at  length  they  were  permitted  to  do  as  they  chose. 

The  audience  of  the  Shah  passed  off  much  better  than  could 
have  been  expected  from  such  rude  and  uncivilized  people,  and 
we  were  all  astonished  that  men,  so  unaccustomed  to  the  man- 
ners and  forms  of  the  world,  should  have  conducted  themselves 
on  this  difficult  occasion  without  committing  some  act  that  was 
flagrant  and  improper.  The  king  was  seated  on  his  throne  of 
gold,  dressed  with  a  magnificence  that  dazzled  the  eyes  of  the 
strangers,  and  made  even  his  subjects  exclaim,  "  Jemshid  ?  who 
was  he  ?  or  Darab  ?  or  Nushirvau  ?  that  they  should  be  men- 
tioned in  the  same  breath  ?"  On  the  right  and  left  of  the 
throne  stood  the  princes,  more  beautiful  than  the  gems  which 
blazed  upon  their  father's  person.  At  a  distance  were  placed 
the  three  viziers  of  the  state,  those  depositories  of  wisdom  and 
good  counsel ;  and,  with  their  backs  to  the  wall,  each  bearing 
a  part  of  the  paraphernalia  of  the  crown,  were  marshaled  in  a 
row  the  black  eyed  pages  of  royalty,  who  might  be  compared 
to  angels  supporting  planets  from  the  starry  firmament.  In 
the  midst  appeared  the  Franks,  who  with  their  unhidden  legs, 


394  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

their  coats  cut  to  the  quick,  their  unbearded  chins,  and  un- 
whiskered  lips,  looked  like  birds  moulting,  or  diseased  apes,  or 
anything  but  human  creatures,  when  contrasted  with  the  ample 
and  splendidly  dressed  persons  by  whom  they  were  surrounded. 
And  they  stood  their  ground,  not  in  the  least  abashed  by  the 
refulgent  presence  of  the  great  king ;  but  their  attitude,  man- 
ner, and  expression  of  countenance,  would  have  made  us  sup- 
pose they  were  quite  as  good  and  as  undefiled  as  ourselves. 

The  speech  made  on  the  occasion  by  the  Elchi  was  character- 
istic of  the  people  he  represented :  that  is,  unadorned,  unpo- 
lished, neither  more  nor  less  than  the  truth,  such  as  a  camel- 
driver  might  use  to  a  muleteer ;  and  had  it  not  been  for  the 
ingenuity  of  the  interpreter,  our  Shah  would  neither  have  been 
addressed  by  his  title  of  King  of  Kings,  or  of  the  Kebleh  of 
the  Universe. 

It  would  be  taking  up  the  pen  of  eternity  were  I  to  attempt 
to  describe  the  boundless  difference  that  we  discovered  between 
the  manners  and  sentiments  of  these  people  and  ourselves. 
Some  of  our  sages  endeavored  to  account  for  it  upon  philoso- 
phical principles,  and  at'ributed  much  to  the  climate  of  those 
dark,  watery,  and  sunless  regions  in  which  they  are  bred  and 
born;  "for,"  said  they,  "  how  can  men  living  surrounded  by 
water,  and  who  never  feel  the  warmth  of  the  sun,  be  like  those 
who  are  never  a  day  without  enjoying  the  full  effulgence  of  its 
rays,  and  do  not  even  know  what  the  sea  means  ?"  But  the 
men  of  the  law  settled  the  question  in  a  much  more  satisfactory 
manner,  by  saying,  ''  it  was  owing  to  their  infidelity  that  they 
were  doomed  to  be  cursed  even  in  this  life  :  and  that  if  the 
ambassador,  his  suite,  and  even  his  whole  nation,  would  submit 
to  become  Mussulmen,  and  embrace  the  only  true  faith,  they 
would  immediately  be  like  ourselves,  their  defilements  would  be 
washed  clean,  and  they  even  might  stand  a  chance  of  walking 
in  the  same  story  of  the  heavens  as  the  genuine  children  of 
Islam  would  in  the  world  to  come." 


CHAPTER   LXXVIIT. 

AMBITIOUS    DEEAMS    REALIZED. 

The  transactions  just  recorded  were  all  propitious  to  my  ad- 
vancement. Owing  to  the  knowledge  I  was  supposed  to  have 
acquired  respecting  Europe,  I  was  employed  in  most  of  the 
affairs  which  concerned  the  Franks  in  Persia,  and  this  had 
furnished  me  with  many  opportunities  of  becoming  known  to 
the  grand  vizier,  and  to  other  ministers  and  men  in  power. 

The  Mirza  Firouz  was  not  rich,  and  the  maintenance  which 
he  received  in  his  public  character  ceasing  as  soon  as  he  re- 
turned to  Tehran,  he  could  no  longer  afford  to  support  me,  and 
he  was  happy  to  find  that  I  was  able  to  work  ray  own  way  into 
a  livelihood.  He  did  not  fail  to  praise  my  good  qualities,  and 
never  lost  an  opportunity  of  extolling  my  abilities.  Nor  was  I 
backward  in  seconding  his  endeavours,  for  I  brought  every- 
thing and  every  person,  infidels  as  well  as  true  believers,  to 
bear  upon  my  ambitious  views ;  and  destiny  (without  whose  aid 
man's  endeavors  are  of  no  avail)  almost  as  much  as  whispered, 
that  the  buffetings  of  the  world  had  taken  their  departure  from 
me. 

The  grand  vizier  was,  without  a  doubt,  the  man  in  Persia 
who,  from  his  acuteness,  tact,  and  presence  of  mind,  had  the 
most  influence  over  the  Shah.  He  had  enjoyed  his  high  situ- 
ation almost  from  the  commencement  of  the  present  long  reign, 
and  had  so  interlaced  his  ofl&ce  with  every  transaction,  public 
as  well  as  private,  that  his  counsels  became  as  necessary  to  the 
country  as  the  rising  and  setting  of  the  sun. 

To  secure  his  protection  became  then  the  first  object  of 
my  endeavors.  I  began  by  daily  attending  his  levees  and 
standing  before  him,  and  as  the  affairs  relating  to  Europe  now 
took  up  his  principal  attention,  he  never  saw  me  without  asking 
some  question  referring  thereto.  This  led  to  my  being  entrusted 
with  messages  to  the  English  ambassador,  the  answers  to  which 
I  always  brought  back,  with  something  of  my  own  surcharged, 
flattering  to  his  abilities  as  a  great  statesman,  and  thus  by 
creating  good-will  between  the  parties,  I  myself  became  a 
favorite. 

The  leading  passion  of  the  vizier  was  the  love  of  receiving 
presents.     This  was   my  kebleh  in  all  transactions  with  the 

(395) 


396  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

Elchi,  and  my  ingenuity  was  constantly  exercised  in  endeavoring 
to  extract  something  from  him  which  would  be  acceptable  to 
the  vizier,  and  serviceable  to  myself.  That  presents  of  ceremony 
should  be  received  and  given  was  a  matter  of  course,  and  there- 
fore I  stood  no  chance  of  acquiring  any  credit  on  such  occasions  ; 
bat  I  was  once  or  twice  accessory  in  making  the  balance 
strongly  preponderate  in  favor  of  my  own  countrymen,  and  the 
vizier  from  that  time  began  to  look  upon  me  with  a  favorable 
aspect. 

A  treaty  was  to  be  negotiated  between  the  two  countries, 
and  my  patron  was  appointed  one  of  the  plenipotentiaries  on 
the  part  of  the  Shah.  Although  this  was  matter  in  which 
one  of  my  insignificance  could  not  expect  to  be  employed,  yet 
I  did  not  cease  to  ply  about  the  negotiators,  like  a  dog  at  an 
entertainment  seeking  for  a  chance  bone ;  and  every  now  and 
then  I  got  so  much  of  the  scent  as  to  make  me  almost  sure  of 
springing  some  game  for  myself. 

At  length,  one  morning,  after  a  late  sitting  of  the  negotiators, 
I  was  summoned  to  attend  the  grand  vizier  in  his  very  anderun, 
a  place  to  which  none  but  his  most  confidential  servants  were 
ever  admitted.  I  found  him  still  in  bed,  bolstered  up  with 
many  soft  pillows,  and  entirely  alone. 

"Hajji,"  said  he,  in  a  familiar  tone,  "  draw  near  and  seat 
yourself  close  to  me  ;  I  have  something  of  importance  to  say." 

I  was  staggered  by  so  high  an  honor ;  but  as  his  command 
was  law,  I  did  not  hesitate  to  kneel  by  his  bed-side. 

Without  circumlocution,  he  at  once  told  me  that  he  was 
placed  in  a  situation  of  great  difficulty,  for  the  English  ambas- 
sador had  made  some  demands  impossible  to  be  granted,  and 
declared  that  he  must  quit  Tehran,  should  they  not  receive  our 
acquiescence. 

"Now,"  said  he,  "the  Shah  has  threatened  if  I  permit  the 
Elchi  to  leave  Persia  dissatisfied,  that  my  head  shall  answer  for 
it ;  and  at  the  same  time  I  and  my  brother  plenipotentiary  are 
half  persuaded  that  his  majesty  will  never  accede  to  the  demands 
of  England.     What  is  to  be  done!" 

"  Could  he  not  be  bribed  ?"  said  I,  with  all  humility,  and 
looking  as  if  I  would  give  other  meaning  to  my  words. 

"  He  be  bribed  ?"  said  the  vizier ;  "  in  the  first  place,  whence 
could  the  bribe  come  ?  and  in  the  second,  these  people  are  such 
fools,  they  know  not  what  a  bribe  means.  But,  give  me  your 
ear.  We  are  no  fools,  whatever  they  may  be.  The  Elchi  is 
very  anxious  to  carry  his  point,  and  you  know  me  well  enough 
to  be  aware  that  there  is  nothing  I  cannot  accomplish  if  once  I 
take  it  in  hand.    You  must  go  and  talk  to  him.     You  are  his 


AMBITIOUS   DREAMS   REALIZED.  397 

friend.  You  may  say  that  you  are  mine — you  may  whisper 
many  things  to  him  which  I  cannot — do  you  understand  ?" 

Upon  this  I  liissed  his  hand  with  much  fervor,  and  raising  it 
to  my  head  I  exclaimed,  "  by  my  head  and  by  my  eyes,  I  will 
go — and  Inshallah,  please  God,  I  will  not  return  without  a 
white  face." 

He  then  dismissed  me,  and  full  of  happy  prospects  I  made 
the  best  of  my  way  to  the  English  ambassador. 

I  will  not  relate  all  I  said  and  did  to  induce  him  to  come  into 
the  grand  vizier's  terms ;  but,  in  two  words,  I  so  entirely  and 
completely  succeeded,  that  I  returned  with  a  heavy  sack  of 
gold,  of  good  and  solid  cash,  in  my  hand,  as  the  forerunner  of 
what  was  to  follow  in  case  all  was  concluded  to  the  ambas- 
sador's satisfaction,  and  I  also  secured  the  promise  of  a  large 
diamond  ring  that  was  forthwith  to  be  transferred  from  the 
finger  of  England  to  that  of  Persia,  by  way  of  an  emblem  of 
eternal  friendship  between  the  representatives  of  the  two  states. 

The  vizier  was  so  astonished  when  he  saw  me  place  the  sack 
before  him,  that  he  looked  at  me  and  then  at  it,  some  time 
before  he  spoke,  and  then  broke  out  into  all  sorts  of  exclama- 
tions in  praise  of  my  activity  and  zeal. 

"Hajji,"  said  he,  "you  are  now  my  property.  We  are 
somebody  in  Persia,  and  you  will  not  long  remain  without  a 
cap  to  your  head.  Make  an  arz,  a  representation,  and  its  ac- 
complishment will  rest  with  me." 

Many  were  the  protestations  I  made  of  fidelity  and  redoubled 
zeal.  I  disowned  any  intention  of  asking  for  any  remuneration, 
except  the  favor  of  being  permitted  to  stand  before  him ;  and  I 
looked  so  humble,  and  talked  in  so  disinterested  a  manner,  that 
if  he  ever  could  have  believed  a  Persian,  I  flattered  myself  he 
did  me. 

But  he  understood  the  value  of  such  speeches  a  great  deal 
better  than  I,  and  said,  "  Do  not  throw  away  your  words  at 
random.  I  was  once  with  my  head  turning  round  and  round  in  the 
world  for  a  livelihood  as  well  as  yourself,  and  therefore  I  know 
the  value  of  the  service  which  you  have  rendered.  Proceed  in 
the  path  which  now  lies  before  you.  The  Franks  are  proper 
materials  for  your  ingenuity.  I  give  you  my  sanction  to  work 
upon  them.  They  have  plenty  of  gold,  and  are  in  want  of  us. 
What  more  need  be  said  ?  The  people  of  Iran  are  like  the 
earth ;  they  require  rishweh*,  their  interests  must  be  highly  ex- 
cited, before  they  will  bring  forth  fruit.  The  Franks  talk  of 
feelings  in  public  life  of  which  wo  are  ignorant.    They  pretend 

*  The  word  rishweh,  bribery,  is  also  used  for  manure  in  agriculture. 

34 


398  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

to  be  actuated  by  no  otlier  principle  than  the  good  of  their 
country.  These  are  words  without  meaning  for  us  ;  for  as  soon 
as  I  die,  or  when  the  Shah  is  no  more,  all  that  we  may  have 
done  for  the  welfare  of  Persia  will  most  likely  be  destroyed ; 
and  when  his  successor  shall  have  well  ruined  the  people  in  se- 
curing himself,  the  whole  business  of  improvement  and  con- 
solidation must  be  gone  over  again.  Certain  privileges  and 
enjoyments  are  the  lawful  inheritance  of  the  Shahs  of  Persia : 
let  them  possess  them  in  the  name  of  Allah  1  And  their  viziers 
also  have  their  allotted  portion  :  why  should  they  refuse  them  ? 
Certainly  not  for  the  good  of  the  country,  because  not  one  in- 
dividual throughout  the  whole  empire  even  understands  what 
that  good  means,  much  less  would  he  work  for  it." 

My  mind  was  greatly  enlightened  by  this  speech,  and  as  the 
curtain  which  hitherto  had  darkened  my  understanding  drew 
up,  I  discovered  new  prospects,  and  could  extend  my  view 
over  a  new  and  more  diversified  region  of  profit.  The  words 
"  the  Franks  are  proper  materials  for  your  ingenuity"  rung  in 
my  ears,  and  my  wits  immediately  began  their  career  of  in- 
vention. 


CHAPTER   LXXIX. 

TURNS   HIS    INFLUENCE    INTO    GOLD. 

I  GAVE  myself  much  pains  to  have  it  well  understood  in  the 
city,  that  I  w-as  a  confidential  agent  of  the  grand  vizier,  and 
did  my  best  to  endeavor  to  impress  upon  the  infidels  that  with- 
out my  interference  nothing  could  be  done.  The  fruits  of  this 
proceeding  were  soon  manifest,  and  my  services  put  into  requi- 
sition in  a  manner  highly  conducive  to  our  mutual  advantage. 

One  of  the  most  remarkable  features  in  the  character  of  our 
English  guests  was  their  extreme  desire  to  do  us  good  against 
our  inclination.  Rather  than  not  attempt  it,  they  put  them- 
selves to  infinite  trouble,  and  even  did  not  refrain  from  expense 
to  secure  their  ends.  They  felt  a  great  deal  more  for  us  than 
we  did  for  ourselves;  and  what  they  could  discover  in  us 
worthy  of  their  love,  we,  who  did  not  cease  to  revile  them  as 
unclean  infidels,  and  as  creatures  doomed  to  eternal  fires, 
were  quite  at  a  loss  to  discover.  However,  I  had  nothing  to  do 
with  their  tastes ;  my  business  was  to  study  how  to  turn  thera  to 


TURNS   HIS   INFLUENCE   INTO    GOLD.  399 

account,  and  the  subject  in  all  conscience  was  rich,  and  repaid 
me  well  for  my  trouble. 

My  readers  will  perhaps  recollect  that,  in  the  first  part  of 
this  my  narrative,  I  mentioned  my  acquaintance  with  an  infidel 
doctor,  who,  among  other  novelties  in  medicine,  did  his  utmost 
endeavors  to  introduce  into  Persia  a  new  mode  of  curing  the 
small-pox.  Since  his  day,  the  practice  had  been  totally  laid 
aside,  our  faculty  continued  to  treat  the  disorder  as  our  fore- 
fathers had  done,  and  the  usual  quantity  of  children  died  as 
heretofore.  A  doctor  was  also  attached  to  the  suite  of  the 
present  Elchi,  and  he  was  impelled  by  more  than  common 
anxiety  to  do  us  good.  His  zeal  to  renew  the  practice  of  the 
cow  medicine  was  unbounded,  and  the  quantity  of  mothers 
whom  he  enticed  to  bring  their  children  to  him  astonishing. 

I,  in  pursuit  of  my  own  schemes,  was  the  first  to  cry  out, 
that  this  great  influx  of  women  of  the  true  faith,  into  the  dwell- 
ing of  an  infidel,  be  the  object  what  it  might,  was  highly  in- 
decorous, and  I  persuaded  the  grand  vizier  to  place  an  officer 
of  the  police  as  sentry  at  the  doctor's  door  to  prevent  the 
women  entering.  This  very  soon  stopped  his  practice,  and  he 
was  in  despair. 

"But  why  should  you  grieve?"  said  I  to  him.  "You  get 
nothing  for  your  trouble,  and  the  people  are  not  obliged  to 
you." 

"Oh,"  said  he,  (for  he  and  his  countrymen  had  learnt  our 
language,)  '  you  know  not  what  you  say.  This  blessing  must 
be  spread  throughout  the  world ;  and  if  your  government  stops 
it  here,  it  will  be  guilty  of  the  blood  of  all  those  lives  which 
might  have  been  saved." 

"What  is  that  to  us  ;"  answered  I :  "let  them  die — we  get 
nothing  by  their  being  alive." 

"  If  it  be  profit  that  you  require,"  exclaimed  the  doctor,  "  I 
will  willingly  pay  any  sum  you  may  demand,  rather  than  lose 
my  vaccinating  matter,  which  must  dry  up  and  be  lost  if  my 
practice  ceases." 

Here  we  entered  into  a  negotiation,  and  after  much  difficulty 
and  show  of  apprehension  concerning  the  risk  I  ran  of  incurring 
the  grand  vizier's  displeasure,  it  was  agreed  that  for  certain 
advantages  which  I  should  enjoy,  the  restriction  should  be 
taken  from  the  doctor's  house  ;  and  I  leave  those  who  know  me 
to  guess  the  numbers  of  children  who  now  flocked  to  the  man 
of  medicine.  His  gate  was  thronged,  and  nothing  more  was 
said  respecting  the  impropriety  of  the  women's  attendance. 

Another  of  his  manias  was  a  desire  to  cut  up  dead  bodies. 
He  did  so  languish  after  every  corpse  that  was  carried  by  his 


400  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJl  BABA. 

house  for  a  burial,  that  I  was  surprised  the  people  did  not  set 
upon  him  for  his  impure  propensities. 

"  But  what  possible  goodwill  accrue  to  mankind  in  general," 
said  I  to  him,  "if  you  dissect  a  dead  Mussulman  ?" 

"  It  is  impossible  to  say  what  good  may  be  lost  by  my  not 
dissecting  him,"  said  he;  "besides,  if  I  do  not  keep  my  hand 
in  practice,  I  shall  lose  my  former  skill." 

He  then  of  his  own  accord  proposed  to  give  a  large  sum  for 
a  corpse,  and  avowed  that  he  was  not  particular  about  its 
quality,  for  that  of  a  Jew,  Christian,  or  true  believer,  would  be 
equally  acceptable. 

I  kept  this  in  remembrance ;  and  indeed  I  had  so  many  op- 
portunities afforded  me  of  advancing  the  designs  of  the  infidels, 
and  of  filling  my  own  pockets  at  the  same  time,  that  I  felt  my- 
self gradually  growing  into  wealth. 

The  ambassador  himself  was  not  without  his  desires  of  im- 
proving (as  he  called  it)  our  state ;  and  I  cannot  resist  relating 
a  circumstance  which  took  place  between  him  and  the  grand 
vizier.  He  announced  it  as  his  intention  to  make  a  present 
to  us  of  a  certain  produce  of  the  earth,  unknown  in  most  parts 
of  Asia,  but  much  cultivated  in  Europe,  which  would  not  fail 
to  be  of  incalculable  benefit  to  the  people  of  Persia ;  and  he 
requested  the  vizier  to  assist  him  in  his  undertaking,  promising 
shortly  to  send  him  a  specimen  of  the  intended  gift.  The 
vizier,  whose  nose  was  always  carried  very  high  whenever  a 
present  was  in  the  wind,  did  not  fail  daily  to  discuss  with  me 
what  this  great  benefit  which  the  ambassador  was  about  to  con- 
fer might  be,  and  his  impatience  to  gain  possession  became 
very  great.  He  discovered  through  me,  that  the  English  re- 
presentative had  brought  with  him  a  store  of  fine  broadcloth, 
upon  which  he  had  constantly  kept  a  steady  eye.  Finding  that 
the  projected  public  benefit  was  not  forthcoming,  he  conceived 
in  his  wisdom  that  the  Elchi  would  have  an  easy  bargain,  if  he 
agreed  to  commute  it  for  a  private  gift  to  himself. 

Therefore,  one  morning  at  his  uprising  he  called  me,  and 
said,  "  By  the  blessing  of  God,  whatever  we  want  we  have  ;  we 
have  bread  and  meat — we  have  salt,  and  rice,  and  corn,  and 
fruits,  such  as  the  infidels  never  even  saw  in  a  dream  ;  in  short, 
we  have  everything  that  it  is  possible  to  conceive.  Then  why 
should  we  become  indebted  to  this  infidel  ambassador  for  things 
we  do  not  want  ?  A  happy  thought  has  struck  me,  by  which 
he  will  be  a  gainer,  and  be  saved  the  trouble  which  he  wishes 
to  incur :  I  will  agree  to  receive  cloth  in  lieu  of  the  public 
benefit.  This  is  so  easy  a  transaction,  that  you,  who,  praise  be 
to  Allah !  are  a  man  of  sharp  wit,  will  easily  negotiate  it.    Go, 


THE   CONCLUSION.  401 

say  this  to  the  ambassador,  and  without  loss  of  time  bring  me 
the  cloth." 

I  forthwith  presented  myself,  and  delivered  the  message. 
Will  it  be  believed  that  he  and  all  his  beardless  suite,  upon  hear- 
ing it,  set  up  such  shouts  of  laughter,  as  might  be  heard  from 
the  top  of  Demawend  ?  "  What  affinity  has  cloth  to  potatoes  ?" 
said  one.  "We  wish  to  give  a  cheap  and  comfortable  article 
of  food  to  your  countrymen,"  said  another.  "But  it  seems 
that  your  vizier  likes  to  transfer  the  whole  advantage  of  the 
gift  from  the  bellies  of  the  nation  to  his  own  back,"  cried  a 
thii'd.  The  ambassador,  however,  who  appeared  the  most 
reasonable  of  the  party,  without  hesitation  very  politely  ordered 
a  piece  of  cloth  to  be  delivered  to  me,  which  he  requested  me 
to  present  to  my  master  with  reiterated  expressions  of  friend- 
ship ;  and  with  the  assurance  that  it  could  make  no  alteration 
in  the  sentiments  which  he  entertained  for  the  Persian  nation, 
who  he  hoped  would  still  receive  the  potato,  as  a  mark  of  his 
high  esteem  and  consideration. 

I  returned  to  the  vizier  full  of  exultation  at  the  success  of 
my  visit ;  and  this  with  the  preceding  and  subsequent  instances 
of  my  abilities,  so  entirely  won  his  affections,  that  I  soon  out- 
stript  every  rival  and  became  his  principal  favorite  and  con- 
fidant. 


CHAPTER  LXXX. 

THE    CONCLUSION. 

The  negotiations  with  the  infidels  were  now  about  being 
closed ;  and  it  was  agreed,  in  order  to  strengthen  the  bonds  of 
friendship  between  the  two,  that  an  embassy  on  the  part  of  the 
Shah  should  forthwith  be  sent  to  the  king  of  England. 

The  experience  of  each  succeeding  day  convinced  me  of  the 
influence  I  had  acquired  over  the  mind  of  the  grand  vizier ;  and 
the  event  just  recorded  was  the  means  of  showing  me  to  what 
extent  he  depended  upon  my  services  and  zeal.  The  day  after 
the  treaty  with  England  was  signed,  he  called  me  into  his 
private  apartment,  and  spoke  to  me  in  the  following  manner : 

"Hajji,"  said  he,  "give  me  your  ear.     I  have  things  of  im- 
portance to  impart,  and  as  I  look  upon  you  as  one  exclusively 
mine,  I  am  sure  that  you  will  listen  to  them  with  becoming  at- 
tention." 
34* 


402  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

I  was  proceeding  to  make  the  necessary  protestations  of  my 
entire  devotedness,  when  he  stopped  me,  and  proceeded  thus : 

"  Well  or  ill,  our  business  with  the  English  ambassador  is  at 
length  concluded,  and  the  Shah  has  ceded  to  his  wishes,  of  send- 
ing an  ambassador  to  England  in  return.  Now,  you  know  the 
Persians  as  well  as  I,  how  they  detest  leaving  their  own  country, 
and  the  difficulty  I  shall  find  in  selecting  a  man  to  devote  him- 
self to  this  service.  I  have  one  in  my  eye,  whom  I  wish  to  send 
above  every  other ;  and  as  it  is  of  the  utmost  importance  to  me 
that  he  should  be  removed  for  the  present  from  Persia,  and 
particularly  from  the  presence  of  the  Centre  of  the  Universe,  I 
require  that  you  use  your  best  endeavors  to  persuade  his  accept- 
ance of  the  appointment." 

I  immediately  felt  assured  that  he  could  mean  no  other  than 
me,  although  I  did  not  see  what  reason  he  could  have  for  re- 
moving me  from  the  presence  of  the  king ;  and  elated  by  so 
bright  a  prospect  of  sudden  elevation  to  rank  and  honors,  I 
sprung  towards  him,  and  seizing  his  hand  with  fervor  to  kiss,  I 
exclaimed,  "  The  least  of  your  slaves  will  always  prove  to  be 
the  most  faithful  of  your  servants :  speak,  and  you  will  always 
find  me  ready,  even  to  death." 

"That  is  well  spoken,"  said  he,  with  great  composure,  "and 
now  listen  to  me.  The  man  I  allude  to  isMirzaFirouz,"  (here 
my  countenance  fell,  and  I  drawled  out  in  answer  a  long  "belli, 
yes.")  "  The  truth  is,  I  have  lately  discovered  that  his  influence 
with  the  Shah  has  been  considerably  upon  the  increase.  He 
possesses  such  great  volubility  of  speech,  and  such  vast  com- 
mand of  language, — he  flatters  so  intensely,  and  lies  so  profoundly, 
— that  the  king  is  more  amused  by  him  than  by  any  other  man 
of  his  court.  Who  knows  how  far  he  may  go  ?  Besides,  I  am 
assured  that  secretly  he  is  my  most  bitter  enemy,  whilst  openly 
he  afl'ects  to  be  my  most  devoted  of  servants ;  and  although  to 
this  day  I  have  never  for  a  moment  dreaded  the  hatred  or  the 
intrigues  of  any  one,  yet  I  cannot  but  own,  that,  in  this  instance, 
I  am°  not  without  my  fears.  By  sending  him  among  the  infi- 
dels, as  the  Shah's  representative,  I  at  once  cut  off  the  source 
of  ray  uneasiness ;  and  once  let  him  be  gone,  I  will  so  arrange 
matters,  that  even  should  he  return  successful  from  his  mission 
(which,  please  God,  he  never  mayl)  he  shall  never  acquire  the 
influence  over  the  Shah  which  he  is  now  attempting  to  estab- 
lish." ,    . 

I  agreed  to  all  he  said  without  hesitation ;  and  was  losing 
myself  in  the  reflection  how  I  could  possibly  turn  this  piece  of 
confidence  to  my  own  advantage,  when  the  vizier  accosted  me 
again,  and  said, — 


THE   CONCLUSION.  403 

"  I  have  only  let  you  into  one  part  of  my  scheme  :  the  second 
object  is,  that  you,  Hajji,  should  accompany  the  ambassador  in 
the  capacity  of  his  first  mirza,  or  chief  secretary.  You  who  are 
my  friend  and  confidant,  who  know  all  my  wishes,  and  who 
have  an  intimate  knowledge  of  all  that  has  occurred  since  the 
arrival  of  the  infidels,  you  are  precisely  the  man  to  fill  this  sit- 
uation, and  you  will  render  me  the  greatest  of  services  by  ac- 
cepting my  proposal." 

However  delighted  I  might  have  been  at  the  prospect  of  be- 
coming the  chief  of  an  embassy,  yet  when  I  was  offered  the 
inferior  appointment,  my  feelings  were  very  difi"erent.  I  felt 
that  in  quitting  the  situation  I  now  enjoyed,  I  should  leave  the 
high  road  to  preferment,  to  get  into  one  of  its  crooked  lanes. 
Besides,  I  strongly  participated  in  the  national  antipathy,  the 
horror  of  leaving  one's  country,  and  particularly  dreaded  the 
idea  of  going  to  sea;  and  when  I  came  to  reflect  that  the 
country  to  which  I  was  likely  to  be  sent,  was  an  unknown  land, — 
a  land  situated  in  eternal  darkness,  beyond  the  regions  of  the 
sun,  and  whose  inhabitants  were  an  unclean,  and  unbelieving 
race, — I  drew  back  from  the  vizier's  offer,  with  the  fear  of  one 
who  had  the  gulf  of  perdition  placed  before  him. 

The  answer  I  made  to  the  prime  minister  was  by  a  string  of 
cold  assents,  such  as  constantly  hang  on  every  Persian's  lips, 
whatever  may  be  his  real  feelings.  I  said,  "  By  my  eyes  ;  I  am 
your  servant ;  my  ear  is  in  your  hand  ;  whatever  you  ordain 
I  am  bound  to  obey :" — and  then  remained  mute  as  a  stone. 

The  vizier  easily  discovered  what  passed  within  me,  and 
said,  "  If  you  dislike  my  off'er,  you  are  your  own  master,  and 
another  may  easily  be  found  to  accept  it.  I  have  your  advan- 
tage in  view,  as  well  as  my  own,  In  the  first  place,  you  should 
immediately  proceed  to  Ispahan,  as  the  Shah's  deputy,  to  collect 
a  considerable  portion  of  the  presents  intended  to  be  sent  by 
our  court  to  the  king  of  England,  and  which  must  be  levied  upon 
the  inhabitants  of  that  city.  You  would  then  have  an  oppor- 
tunity of  enriching  yourself." — 

I  di^  not  let  the  vizier  proceed  further.  The  temptation  of 
returning  to  my  native  place  in  such  a  character,  clothed  with 
such  powers,  was  too  great  to  be  withstood,  and  in  a  very 
altered  tone  I  immediately  exclaimed,  with  great  earnestness — 

"By  the  salt  of  your  highness,  by  your  death,  and  by  the 
beard  of  the  Shah,  I  am  ready  to  go.  No  other  word  need  be 
said, — I  will  go  wherever  you  command,  were  it  even  to  fetch 
the  father  of  all  the  Franks  from  the  inmost  chambers  of  the 
world  below." 

"Be  it  so,"  said  the  vizier;  "and  as  the  first  step  towards  it, 


404  THE  ADVENTURES  OF  HAJJI  BABA. 

go  at  once  to  Mirza  Firouz,  flatter  and  assure  him  that  he  is 
the  only  man  in  Persia  fit  to  be  sent  upon  such  an  embassy, 
and  persuade  him  of  the  advantages  that  will  accrue  to  him. 
Honor,  riches,  the  good  will  of  the  Shah,  and  my  protection, 
all  will  abound ;  and  at  his  return,  God  best  knows  to  what 
heights  he  may  not  ascend.  Throw  out  hints  that  some  other 
man,  some  rival,  whom  you  may  discover,  has  been  talked  of 
for  the  situation,  and  you  will  see  how  easily  he  will  swallow 
the  bait.     Go,  and  Allah  be  with  you  1" 

I  left  his  presence  scarcely  knowing  whether  I  soared  in  the 
heavens,  or  trod  on  the  earth.  "What,"  said  I  to  myself, 
"  shall  I  then  attain  the  summit  of  all  earthly  happiness, — shall 
my  long  past  prognostics  at  length  be  fulfilled, — and  shall  I 
indeed  enter  my  native  place,  clothed  with  the  kalaat  of  honor, 
armed  with  the  hand  of  power,  and  mounted  upon  the  steed  of 
splendor  ?  Let  those  who  once  scorned  Hajji  Baba,  the 
barber's  son,  now  beware,  for  they  will  have  to  deal  with  the 
Shah's  deputy.  Let  those  crowns  which  once  submitted  to  my 
razor,  now  be  prostrate,  for  he  who  can  cut  the  head  off  is  at 
hand.  Ye  that  have  deprived  me  of  my  inheritance  tremble, 
for  the  power  of  making  you  restore  it  is  mine." 

Indulging  in  such  like  feelings,  I  am  aware  that  I  strutted 
along  the  street  with  a  swell  and  dignity  of  manner,  which  must 
have  surprised  every  one  who  saw  me.  I  could  think  of  nothing 
save  my  approaching  honors  ;  and  my  mind  was  riveted  by  the 
one  idea  of  seeing  myself  mounted  on  a  finely  caparisoned 
horse,  adorned  by  a  gold  chain  round  its  neck,  and  a  silver 
tassel  under  its  throat,  preceded  by  my  led  horses,  and  my  run- 
ning footmen,  and  greeted  by  a  deputation  from  the  governor  of 
the  city,  to  welcome  my  arrival  in  my  native  place. 

However,  I  proceeded  to  the  house  of  Mirza  Firouz,  whom 
I  found  prepared  to  converse  on  the  subject  of  the  em- 
bassy, because,  it  seems,  that  the  English  Elchi  bad  already 
made  proposals  to  him  to  the  same  effect  as  those  which  the 
grand  vizier  intended  to  make.  Although  I  had  attached  my- 
self almost  exclusively  to  the  service  of  the  prime  minister,  yet 
I  always  persevered  in  my  friendship  with  the  intended  ambas- 
sador, who  was  very  glad  to  hear  that  I  was  to  accompany  him. 
We  talked  long  upon  our  future  plans,  as  well  as  upon  our  past 
adventures,  and  when,  roaring  with  laughter,  he  asked  whether 
I  should  now  endeavor  to  regain  possession  of  my  faithless  She- 
kerleb,  I  slipped  away,  not  over-pleased  to  have  that  event  of 
my  life  recalled  to  my  recollection. 

The  next  day  the  Shah  announced  at  the  public  audience  his 
intention  of  sending  Mirza  Firouz  to  England  as  his  represen- 


THE   CONCLUSION.  405 

tative,  and  the  grand  vizier  ordered  me  to  be  in  readiness  to 
proceed  to  Ispahan,  as  soon  as  the  proper  firmans  necessary  to 
arm  me  with  power  should  be  prepared. 

I  will  not  tire  the  reader  with  a  description  of  the  numerous 
details  of  my  preparatives  for  this  expedition.  He  would  sicken 
and  I  should  blush  at  my  vanity.  It  is  sufficient  to  say  that  I 
traveled  to  Ispahan  with  all  the  parade  of  a  man  of  consequence ; 
and  that  I  entered  my  native  city  with  feelings  that  none  but  a 
Persian,  bred  and  born  in  the  cravings  of  ambition,  can  under- 
stand. I  found  myself  at  the  summit  of  what,  in  my  eyes,  was 
perfect  human  bliss.  Misfortune  seemed  to  have  taken  its  leave, 
and  everything  informed  me  that  a  new  chapter  in  the  book  of 
my  life  was  about  to  open.  Hajji  Baba,  the  barber's  son,  en- 
tered his  native  place  as  Mirza  Hajji  Baba,  the  Shah's  deputy. 
Need  I  say  more  ? 


And  here,  gentle  reader  1  the  humble  translator  of  the  Adven- 
tures of  Hajji  Baba  presumes  to  address  you,  and  profiting  of 
the  hint  afi"orded  him  by  the  Persian  story-tellers,  stops  his  nar- 
rative, makes  his  bow,  and  says,  "  Give  me  encouragement,  and 
I  will  tell  you  more.  You  shall  be  informed  how  Hajji  Baba 
accompanied  a  great  ambassador  to  England,  of  their  adven- 
tures by  sea  and  land,  of  all  he  saw,  and  all  he  remarked,  and 
of  what  happened  to  him  on  his  return  to  Persia."  But  he 
begs  to  add,  should  he  find,  like  Hajji's  friend  the  third  Dervish, 
he  has  not  yet  acquired  the  art  of  leading  on  the  attention  of 
the  curious,  he  will  never  venture  to  appear  again  before  the 
public  until  he  has  gained  the  necessary  experience  to  ensure 
success.     And  so  he  very  humbly  takes  his  leave. 

P.  P. 


THE  END. 


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6  LIPPINCOTT,  CxRAMBO  &  CO.'S  PUBLICATIONS. 


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5.  HOME  SCENES, 38 

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5. 

6. 

7. 

8. 

9. 
10. 
11. 
12. 


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Cabinet  Histories  of  the  States. 

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Fireside  Amusements. 

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Grandmamma's  Pockets.     By  Mrs.  S.  C.  Hall. 

Little  Robinson,  and  Other  Tales. 

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14  LIPPINCOTT,  GRAMBO  &  CO.'S  PUBLICATIONS. 

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16  LIPPINCOTT,  GRAMBO  &  CO.'S  PUBLICATIONS. 

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REGNATJLT'S  ELEMENTS  OF  CHEMISTKY.  Translated  from 
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SOYAL  OCTAVO  BIBLE. 

PRINTED  ON   FINE  PAPER. 

This  Bible  is  printed  from  type  as  large  as  most  of  the  Quartos,  and  its  porta- 
ble size  makes  it  one  of  the  most  convenient  books  to  read  thatispublislied. 

Old  and  New  Testament,  with  Psalms,  extra  sheep,       -         -        -  1  76 

"  <«  "  "  emb.  mari  ed.,  2  00 

"  "  "  "  emb.  gilt  ed.,  2  50 

•'  "  Apoc.  Con.  and  Psalms,  extra  sheep, 

>     emb.  mar.  ed.,  2  50 


CROWN  OCTAVO  BIBLE. 

1.  Super  Turkey,  gilt  edges,          -         -         -         -         -  -  -2  75 

2.  Plain  Turkey,  gilt  edges, -  -  -2  60 

3.  English  Turkey,  gilt  edges,        -         -         -         -         -  -  -2  25 

4.  Arabesque,  gilt  edges,        -         -         -         -         -         -  -  -175 

5.  Arabesque,  fancy  edges,   -         -         -         -         -         -  -  -137 

6.  Plain  roan,        -         -         -         -         -         -         -         -  -  -125 

SUPERFINE    PAPER.  * 

A   1   Turkey, gothic  panel,  and  beveled,  ornamented  edges,  -  -     4  00 
"2  Turkey,  gothic  panel,  and  bev.,  ornamented  edges,  with  clasp,     5  00 

"  3  Turkey,  gothic  panel,  and  beveled,        -         -         -  -  -     3  50 

"  4  Turkey,  gothic  panel,  and  beveled,  with  clasp,      -  -  -     4  50 

"5  Turkey,  super  extra,  with  clasp,    -         -         -         -  -  -4  00 

"  6  Turkey,  sup.  cxt.,  gilt  edges,           -         -         -         -  -  -     3  00 

"  7  Turkey,  flexible,  gilt  edges,            -         -         -         -  -  -2  75 

"  8  Turkey  antique,  super  extra,  gilt  edges,          -         -  -  -     3  50 

"  9  Turkey  antique,  super  extra,  ;filt  edges,  with  clasp,  -  -     4  50 


24  LIPPINCOTT,  GRAMBO  &  CO.'S  PUBLICATIONS. 

TEACHEES'  18mo.  POLYGLOT  BIBLE. 

WITH  MAPS. 

1.  Turkey,  super,  gilt  edges,         -        -         -        -        -        -        -175 

2.  Turkey,  plain,  gilt  edges,  -         -         -         -         -         -         -150 

3.  English  Turkey,  gilt  edges, 125 

"  English  Turkey,  gilt  edges,  with  clasp,       -         -        -        -        -     1  50 

4.  Arabesque,  gilt  edges,       -         -         -         -         -         --         -100 

6.  Arabesque,  fancy  edges,   --------88 

6.  Plain  roan,        ...-.-----75 

SUPERFINE   PAPER. 

A  1  Turkey,  sup.  est.,  gothic  panel,  and  bevel.,  ornamented  edges,     3  00 
"  2  Turkey,  sup.  ext.,  gothic  panel,  and    beveled,  ornamented 

edges,  with  clasp,        -        -         -        -        -        -         -        -3  75 

"3  Turkey,  super,  gothic  panel,  and  bev.,  -        -        -        -        -     2  75 

"  4  Turkey,  super,  gothic  panel,  and  beveled,  with  clasp,    -        -     3  25 
"  5  Turkey,  super  ext.,  with  clasp,       -         -        -  -        -         -3  00 

"  6  Turkey,  sup.  ext.,  gilt  edges, 2  00 

"  7  Turkey,  flexible,  gilt  edges, 1   75 

"  8  Turkey  antique,  super  extra,  gilt  edges,  -         -         -     2  75 

"  9  Turkey  antique,  super  extra,  gilt  edges,  with  clasp,        -         -     3  25 


THE  18mo.  OXFOHD  BIBLE. 

1.  Turkey,  super,  gilt  edges,  -        -         -        -        -        -        -175 

2.  Turkey,  plain,  gilt  edges,  -        -        -        -        -        -        -150 

3.  English  Turkey,  gilt  edges,        -         -         -         -         -         -         -125 

"  English  Turkey,  gilt  edge,  with  clasp,        -         -         -         -         -     1  50 

4.  Arabesque,  gilt  edges,       -         -         -         -         -         -         -         -100 

5.  Arabesque,  fancy  edges,    -...----88 

6.  Plain  roan,        ...-------75 

SUPERFINE   PAPER. 

A  1  Turkey,  sup.  ext.,  gothic  panel,  and  bev.,  ornamented  edges,     3  00 
•'  2  Turkey,  super,  ext.,  gothic  panel,  and  beveled,  ornamented 

edges,  with  clasp,        -        -        -        -        -        -        -        --3  50 

"  3  Turkey,  super,  gothic  panel,  and  bev.,  -        -        -        -        -     2  75 

"  4  Turkey,  super,  gothic  panel,  and  beveled,  with  clasp,   -        -     3  50 
"  5  Turkey,  super  ext.,  with  clasp,      -         -        -         -         -        -3  00 

"6  Turkey,  sup.  ext.,  gilt  edges,  -        -        -        -         -        -2  00 

"7  Turkey,  flexible,  gilt  edges, 175 

"  S  Turkey  antique,  super  extra,  gilt  edges,         -         -        -        -    2  75 
"  9  Turkey  antique,  super  extra,  gilt  edges,  with  clasp,        -        -     3  50 


THE  AGATE  32mo.  POCKET  BIBLE. 

Prhiled  with  larger  type  than  any  other  Pocket  edition. 

1.  Turkey,  super,  gilt  edges,        -        -        -         -         -        -         -I  38 

2.  Turkey,  plain,  gilt  edges,         -         -         -         -         -         -         -125 

3.  English  Turkey,  gilt  edges, 100 

4.  Arabesque,  gilt  edges,     --------88 

5.  Tucks,  gilt  edges, 100 

6.  Arabesque,  f;incy  edges,  -------75 

7.  Plain  roan,       ---------         -63 


LIPPirfCOTT,  GRAMCO  &  CO.'S  PUBLICATIONS.  23 
THE  AGATE  32ino.  POCKET  BIBLE. 

SUrERFINE    PAFEK. 

A   1  Turkey,  sup.  ext.,  gothic  panel,  and  bev.,  ornamented  edges,     2  75 
"  2  Turkey,   sup.  ext.,  gothic  pant;l.  and  beveled,  ornamented 

edges,  with  clasp,         -         -         -         -         -         -         -  -3  50 

"  3  Turkey,  super,  gothic  panel,  and  bev.,  -        -        -        -  -     2  50 

*'  4  Turkey,  super,  gothic  panel,  and  beveled,  with  clasp,   -  -     3  00 

"  5  Turkey,  super  ext.,  with  clasp,       -        -        -         -        -  -2  75 

"  6  Turkey,  sup.  ext.,  gilt  edges,           -         -         -         -         -  -175 

"  7  Turkey,'  flexible,  gilt  edges,  -        -        -         -         -        -  -160 

"  S  Turkey  antique,  super  extra,  gilt  edges,          -         -         -  -     2  50 

"  9  Turkey  antique,  super  extra,  gilt  edges,  with  clasp,         .  -     3  00 


DIAEIOlirD  32mo.  BIBLE. 

WITH  PSALMS. 

1.  Turkey,  super,  gilt  edges,        -        -         -         -         -         -        -125 

2.  Turkey,  plain,  gilt  edges,  -..-         -         -         -         -         -100 

3.  English  Turkey,  gilt  edges,      -.-....75 
"  English  Turkey,  gilt  edges,  Vvith  clasp,    -         -         -         .         .         88 

4.  Arabesque,  gilt  edges,     --------63 

"  Arabesque,  gilt  edges,  with  clasp,    --,.-.         75 

5.  Tucks,  gilt  edges,    ------.-.75 

C.  Arabesque,  fancy  edges,  --.-.-_         50 

7.  Plain  roan,      ----------45 


STANDARD    EDITIONS    OF 
TPIE   BOOK   OF  COMMON  PRAYER. 

IN  SIX  DIFFERENT  SIZES  OF  BOOKS  AND  TYPE. 

Priuled  on  the  finest  paper,  with  new  nnd  beautiful  type,  suitable  for  the  pew, 
reticule,  or  pocket.    Illustrated  with  Steel  Plates  and  Illumiiiatious. 

THE  OCTAVO  ILLUMINATED  PEAYER. 

A   1  Turkey,  sup.  ext.,  gothic  panel,  and  bev.,  ornamented  edges,     7  50 
"  2  Turkey,  sup.  est.,  gothic   panel,  and   beveled,  ornamented 

edges,  with  clasp,        -        -        -        -         -         -         -         -8  50 

"  3  Turkey,  super,  gothic  panel,  and  bev.,  -        -        -         -        .     6  00 

"4  Turkey,  super,  gothic  panel,  and  beveled,  with  clasp,   -        -     7  60 

"  5  Turkey,  super  ext.,  with  clasp,      -         -         -         -         -         -     6  00 

"  6  Turkey,  sup.  ext.,  gilt  edges,  -         -^-         -         -         -5  50 

<'  7  Plain  Turkey,  flexible  b'ks,  gill  edges,       "  -         -         -         -     4  50 


THE  OCTAVO  PBAYES. 

PICA   TYPE. 

1.  Turkey,  super,  gilt  edges,  -         -         -         -         -         -         -3  50 

2.  Turkey,  plain,  (lex.,  gilt  edges, 3  00 

3.  English  Turkey,  gilt  edges, -         -2  75 

4.  Arabesque,  gilt  edges,       -         -         --        -         -         -         -2  60 

5.  Arabesque,  fancy  edges,    -         -         -         -         -        -         -         -188 

6.  Plain  roan,         ...--         .....175 


26  LIPPmCOTT,  GRAMBO  &.  CO.'S  PUBLICATIONS. 

THE  OCTAVO  PRAYER. 

SUPERFINE  PAPER. 

A   1   Turkey,  sup.  ext.,  gothic  panel,  and  bev.,  ornamented  edges,     5  00 
"  2  Turkey,   sup.  ext.,  gothic  panel,    and   beveled,  ornamented 

edges,  with  clasp,         -         -         -         -         -         -         -  -6  00 

"  3  Turkey,  super,  gothic  panel,  and  bev.,   -         -         -         -  -     4  50 

"  4  Turkey,  super,  gothic  panel,  and  beveled,  with  clasp,   -  -     5  50 

"  5  Turkey,  super  ext.,  with  clasp,       -         -         -         -         -  -6  00 

"  6  Turkey,  super  ext.,  gilt  edges,        -         -         -         -         -  -4  00 

"  7  Turkey,  flexible,  gilt  edges,   -         -         -        -        -        -  -     3  50 

"8  Turkey  antique,  super  extra,  gilt  edges,          -         -         -  -     4  50 

"9  Turkey  antique,  super  extra,  gilt  edges,  with  clasp,        -  -    5  50 


THE  ROYAL  12mo.  PRAYER. 

PICA    TYPE. 

1.  Turkey,  super,  gilt  edges,  -         -        -         -         -        -         -2  50 

2.  Turkey,  plain,  gilt  edges, 2  00 

3.  English  Turkey,  gilt  edges,        -         -         -         -         -         -         -175 

4.  Arabesque,  gilt  edges,       -         -        -        -         -        -        -        -160 

5.  Arabesque,  fancy  edges,    -         -        -        -        -        -        -        -125 

6.  Plain  roan,        --.-------112 

SUPEHFINE   PAPEB. 

A  1  Turkey,  sup.  ext.,  gothic  panel,  and  bev.,  ornamented  edges,     4  00 
"  2  Turkey,  sup.  ext.,  gothic  panel,  and    beveled,  ornamented 

edges,  with  clasp,        -         -         -         -         -        -        -        -5  00 

"  3  Turkey,  super,  gothic  panel,  and  bev.,  -         -         -         -     3  50 

"4  Turkey,  super,  gothic  panel,  and  beveled,  with  clasp,     -        -     4  50 
•'  5  Turkey,  super  ext.,  with  clasp,       -        -        -         -         -        -4  00 

"6  Turkey,  super  ext.,  gilt  edges,        -        -        -         -        -        -3  00 

"  7  Turkey,  flexible,  gilt  edges, 2  50 

"  8  Turkey  antique,  super  extra,  gilt  edges,  -         -         -         -     3  60 

"  9  Turkey  antique,  super  extra,  gilt  edges,  with  clasp,        -        -     4  50 


THE  16mo.  PRAYER. 

Printed  throughout  with  large  and  elegant  Type. 

1.  Turkey,  super,  gilt  edges,  -        -        -        -         -         -        -175 

2.  Turkey,  plain,  gilt  edges,  -         -         -         •         -         -         -160 

3.  English  Turkey,  gilt  edges, 138 

4.  Arabesque,  gilt  edges,       -         -         -         -         -         -         -         -100 

6.  Arabesque,  fancy  edges,   --------88 

6.  Plain  roan, ---80 

SUPERFINE   PAPER. 

A  1  Turkey,  sup.  ext.,  gothic  panel,  and  bev.,  ornamented  edges,     3  CO 

"  2  Turkey,   sup.  ext.,   gothic  panel,  and   beveled,  ornamented 

edges,  with  clasp,        -         -         -         -         -         -         -         -3  75 

*'  3  Turkey,  super,  gothic  panel,  and  bev.,  -         -        -        -     2  75 

"4  Turkey,  super,  gothic  panel,  and  beveled,  with  clasp,    -         -     3  50 

"  5  Turkey,  super  ext.,  with  clasp,       -         -         -         -         -         -3  00 

"  6  Turkey,  sup.  ext.,  gilt  edges,         -        -        -        -        -        -2  25 

"  7  Turkey,  flexible,  gilt  edges, 2  00 

"8  Turkey  antique,  super  extra,  gilt  edges,  -        -        -        -     2  75 

"  9  Turkey  antique,  super  extra,  gilt  edges,  with  clasp,        -        -     3  50 


LIPPINCOTT,  GRAMBO  &  CO.'S  PUnLICATIONS.  27 

THE  18mo.  PRAYER. 

1.  Turkey,  super,  gilt  edges,  -         -        -         -         -         -        -138 

2.  Turkey,  plain,  gill  edges,  -         -         -         -         -         -         -113 

3.  P^nglish  Turkey,  gilt  edges,       -------88 

4.  Arabesque,  gilt  edges,       --------75 

5.  Arabesque,  fancy  edges,   -         -         -         -         -         -         -         -63 

6.  Plain  roan,         --..-.----50 

SUPERFINE    PAPER. 

A  1  Turkey,  sup.  ext.,  gothic  panel,  and  bev.,  ornamented  edges,     2  15 
"  2  Turkey,  sup.  ext.,  gothic  panel,   and    beveled,  ornamented 

edges,  with  clasp,        -        -        -         -        -        -'-         -3  50 

"  3  Turkey,  super,  gothic  panel,  and  bev.,  -         -         -         -         -     2  00 

"  4  Turkey,  super,  gothic  panel,  and  beveled,  with  clasp,    -         -     2  75 
"  5  Turkey,  super  ext.,  with  clasp,       -         -         -         -         -         -2  75 

"  6  Turkey,  sup.  ext.,  gilt  edges,  -         -        -         -         -        -I  75 

"7  Turkey,  flexible,  gilt  edges,   -         -         -        -         -        -'-138 

"  S  Turkey  antique,  super  extra,  gilt  edges,  -         -         -         -     2  00 

"  9  Turkey  antique,  super  extra,  gilt  edges,  with  clasp,        -         -     2  75 


THE  32ino.  PRAYER,  in  large  clear  type. 

1.  Turkey,  super,  gilt  edges,  -         -         -         -         -         -         -125 

2.  Turkey,  plain,  gilt  edges,  -         -         -         -         -         -         -100 

3.  English  Turkey,  gilt  edges,        -------88 

4.  Arabesque,  gilt  edges,       --------63 

5.  Arabesque,  fancy  edges,  --------66 

6.  Plain  roan,        ------         -.--50 

SUPERFINE   PAPER. 

A   1  Turkey,  sup.  ext.,  gothic  panel,  and  bev.,  ornamented  edges,     2  60 
"  2  Turkey,  sup.  ext.,  gothic   panel,  and   beveled,  ornamented 

edges,  with  clasp,         •         -         -         -         -         -         -         -3  00 

"  3  Turkey,  super,  gothic  panel,  and  bev.,   -         -         -        -         -     2  00 

*'  4  Turkey,  super,  gothic  panel,  and  beveled,  with  clasp,   -         -     2  75 
"5  Turkey,  super  ext.,  with  clasp,       -         -         -         -         -         -2  60 

"  6  Turkey,  sup.  ext.,  gilt  edges,  -         -         -        -         -        -150 

«' 7  Turkey,  flexible,  gilt  edges, 1   38 

"  8  Turkey  antique,  super  extra,  gilt  edges,  -         -         -         -     2  00 

"  9  Turkey  antique,  super  extra,  gilt  edges,  with  clasp,        -         -     2  75 


THE  PEARL  PRAYER. 

1.  Turkey,  super,  gilt  edges,  -..----88 

2.  Turkey,  plain,  gilt  edges,  -------75 

3.  English  Turkey,  gilt  edges,        ---...-60 

4.  Arabesque,  gilt  edges,        --------37 

5.  Tucks,  gilt  edges,      -...--..-62 

6.  Arabesque,  fancy  edges,    ------.-31 

7.  Plain  roan,         --.------.25 

BIBLE  AND  PRAYER. 

In  one  nent  volume,  printed  in  ihe  best  manner,  on  fine  Sized  Paper. 

1.  ISmo.  Turkey,  super,  gilt  edges,       -         -         -         -         -         -2  50 

2.  Do.     Turkey,  flex.,  gilt  edges, 2  00 

3.  Do.     English  Turkey,  gilt  edges,      -         -         -         -         -         -175 

4.  Do.     Arabesque,  fancy  edges,  -         -         -         -         -         -     I   38 

5.  Do.     Extra  plain  bheop,  -         -         -        -         -         -        -125 


28  LIPPINCX)TT,  GRAMBO  &  CO.'S  PUBLICATIONS. 

1.  32mo.  Turkey,  super,  gill  edges,        -         -         -         -         -         -175 

2.  Do.  Turkey,  plain  flex.,  gilt  edges,         -         -         -         -         -     1   50 

3.  Do.  English  Turkey,  gilt  edges, 1   38 

4.  Do.  Arabesque,  fancy  edge,  -         -         -         -         -         -         -125 

5.  Do.  Plain  roan, --100 

OCTAVO  TESTAMEITT. 
The  New  Testament,  royal  8vo.,  large  type,  -         -        -        -         63 

Do.         do.         with  Psalms,         ------        75 

DAYID'S  PSALMS. 
32mo.,  half  arabesque,  .-.--..-20 

<'  sheep,  --.-.-.---18 
18mo.,  large  type,  sheep,       --------         3S 

BIBLES   AND  PRAYERS, 

IN  RICH    TURKEY    AND    VELVET   BINDINGS,  WITH    STEEL    PLATES   AND 
ILLUMINATIONS. 

Crown  Quarto  Bible,  velvet,  full  ornaments,  -         -  -  -  -  33  00 

"       Octavo    ««  "  "  8  00 

"           "         "           "       el's  and  corners,          -  -  -  -     6  00 

"           "         "         Turkey  super,  full  ornaments,  -  -  -     5  00 

ISmo.  Bible,  velvet,  full  ornaments,       -         -        -  --  -5  00 

"                  '*       clasps  and  corners,          -         -  -  -  -     4  00 

"                   Turkey  super,  full  ornaments,      -  -  -  -     3  75 

18mo.  Polyglot  Bible,  velvet,  full  ornaments,          -  -  -  -     5  00 

"                    '<       velvet,  el's  and  cor's,  -         -  -  -  -     4  00 

"                    "       Turkey  super,  full  ornaments,  -  -  -     3  75 

Agate,  32mo.  Bible,  velvet,  full  ornaments,    -         -  -  -  -     5  00 

"               "        velvet,  el's  and  corners,           -  -  -  -     3  75 

"               "       Turkey  super,  full  ornaments,  -  -  .     3  oO 

16mo.  Prayer,  velvet,  full  ornaments,    -         -        -  -  -  -5  00 

"             velvet,  clasps  and  corners,       -         -  -  -  -     4  00 

"             Turkey  super,  full  ornaments,           -  -  -  -     4  00 

ISmo.  Prayer,  velvet,  full  ornaments,     -         -         -  -  -  -5  00 

"              velvet,  clasps  and  corners,       -         -  .  -  -     3  75 

"            Turkey  super,  full  ornaments,          .  -  -  -     3  50 

32mo.  Prayer,  velvet,  full  ornaments,    -         -         -  -  -  -     4  50 

'<             velvet,  clasps  and  corners,        .         -  -  -  -     3  50 

"            Turkey  super,  full  ornaments,           -  -  -  -     3  50 

PURE  FLEXIBLE. 

TURKEY    FLEXIBLE    BACKS    AND   BOARDS,    CHASTE   STYLES. 

Crown  8vo.  Bible,  pure  flexible,     -         -         -         -        -        -        -3  00 

18mo.  Oxford  Bible,  "  2  00 

Polyglot  Bible,  "  2  00 

Agate  Bible,  "  1  75 

Crown  Svo.  Prayer,  "  3  00 

16mo.  Prayer,  "  2  00 

ISmo. 'Prayer,  "  - 175 

32mo.  Prayer,  i'  1   38 

Constantly  on  hand,  in  addition  to  the  above,  a  large  assortment  of 
BIBLES  and  PRAYER  BOOKS,  suitable  for  presentation,  bound  in 
the  most  epleudid  and  costly  styles,  -with  illuminated  edges,  gold  and 
Bilver  ornaments,  ranging  in  prices  from  i^'20  to  $100. 


LIPPINCOTT,  GRAMBO,  &  CO.'S  PUBLICATIONS.  29 


The  attention  of  Teachers,  Echicational  Boards,  and  friends  of  Edu- 
cation generally,  is  respectfidlij  requested  to  tlie  following 

VALUABLE  SCHOOL  BOOKS. 

BAILEY'S'^ETGLrsnljRAMMAR; 

A  SIMPLE,  CONCISE,  AND  COMPREHENSIVE 

MANUAL  OF  THE  ENGLISH  LANGUAGE: 

DESIGNED    FOE   THE 

USE  OF  SCHOOLS,  ACADEMIES,  AND  AS  A  BOOK  FOR  GENERAL 
REFERENCE  IN  THE  LANGUAGE. 

12WIO. 


BAILEY'S  PRIMARY  GRAMMAR, 

FOR    BEQINNERS: 
DESIGNED  AS  AN  INTRODUCTION  TO  THE  MANUAL. 


These  Grammars  have  been  a  few  months  onl}'  before  the  public, 
-and  have  secured  a  patronage  almost  unprecedented,  from  the  lead- 
ing schools,  wherever  they  have  been  offered.  The  IManual  is 
highly  valued  as  a  book  of  reference  for  more  advanced  students, 
and  is  so  adopted  and  recommended  by  Prof.  McGuffey,  in  hia 
Lectures  on  General  Grammar  in  the  University  of  Virginia. 

RECOMMENDATIONS. 
From  W.  H.  McGuffey,  D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  Proffssor  of  Moral  Philosophy,  Uni- 
versity of  Virginia. 
I  think  it  superior  in  some  respects  to  any  Grammar  in  our  language  now 
before  the  public.  I  believe  it  will  greatly  aid  in  diffusing  a  more  correct 
knowledge  of  our  language,  and  thus  subserve  the  cause  of  general  education 
in  a  most  important  department. 

From  Rev.  James  Greer,  Principal  of  the  High  School,  Rockbridge  Co.,  Va. 
This  Grammar  is  at  once  simple  as  an  elementary  work  and  full,  embracing 
a  solution  of  the  most  important  difficulties  of  the  language,  and  suited  to 
complete  the  education  of  the  Knglish  scholar. 

1.  The  tripartite  division  of  the  parts  of  speech  is  philosophical  and  per- 
spicuous. 

2.  The  aggregated'principles  of  language,  with  the  rules  appended,  in  a 
concise  form  in  Part  I.,  is  well  conceived.  The  definitions  are  generally 
simple,  full,  and  lucid. 

3.  The  repetition  of  the  rules,  with  elaborate  observations,  critical  and  illus- 
trative, in  Part  H.,  completes  tlic  syntax  in  a  luminous  form. 

4.  The  disi]uisition  of  the  modes  and  tenses,  in  Part  II.,  illustrates  this 
difficult  part  of  our  language. 

5.  The  collection  of  idioms  snd  sentences  of  difficult  solution,  in  Part  III., 
accompanied  vviiti  explanations  and  criticisms,  is  of  invaluable  seivico. 


30  LTPPmCOTT,  GRAMBO,  &  CO.'S  PUBLICATIONS. 

From  Chester  Dewey,  D.  D.,  Professor,  Rochester  University,  N.  Y. 

Taking  the  generally  adopted  parts  of  speech  and  their  inflections,  the 
"Manual  of  the  English  Language"  is  a  luminous  view  of  English  Grammar, 
its  definitions  generally  accurate,  its  rules  definite,  its  illustrations  copious, 
its  idioms  fully  unfolded,  and  its  difficult  grammatical  constructions  admirably 
discussed. 


From  the  National  Intelligencer. 

Language  is  constantly  and  insensibly  changing  from  "  logical  accuracy  to 
logical  license."  It  is  the  province  of  the  grammarian  to  resist  this  change, 
as  far  as  it  can  be  prevented,  by  a  distinct  enunciation  of  the  logical  standard 
with  which  it  conflicts.  Mr.  Bailey  seems  to  understand  this  part  of  his  task 
better  than  most  of  his  predecessors.  A  mere  compiler,  as  he  truly  says,  is 
not  the  man  to  make  a  Grammar.  There  must  be  a  literary  taste, -discrimi- 
nating judgment,  a  proper  application  of  authority,  of  fundamental  principles, 
of  radical  laws,  and  grammatical  rules.  Mr.  Bailey  evidently  possesses  these 
qualifications  in  a  high  degree,  and  has  discharged  what  we  deem  the  highest 
and  most  useful  function  of  the  Grammarian  with  intelligence  and  fidelity.  He 
has  given  iis'a  Grammar  which  has  done  all  that,  in  our  opinion,  a  Grammar 
can  do;  it  furnishes  a  source  of  authoritative  if  not  final  appeal,  on  nearly 
every  important  difficulty  in  the  language,  to  which  a  person  in  doubt  as  to 
the  grammatical  propriety  of  certain  expressions  can  refer  with  as  much  con- 
fidence as  he  would  to  a  court  of  educated  men.  His  book,  if  faithfully  stu- 
died, will  discipline  the  mind,  and  resolve  doubts  on  nearly  all  obscure  points, 
respecting  which  the  authority  of  established  practice  and  good  usage  are 
themselves  at  fault  or  variance. 


Second  Notice  from  the  National  Intelligencer  of  October  8th. 

We  have  examined  this  treatise  with  more  care  than  it^ommonly  comes 
within  our  power  to  give  to  the  most  of  the  "  New  Books."     It  is  what  it 

fiurports  to  be,  a  "  simple,  concise,  and  comprehensive  manual  of  the  English 
anguige,"  admirably  adapted  for  the  use  of  Schools  and  Academies,  and  as  a 
book  for  general  reference  in  the  legitimate  usages  and  idioms  of  our  mother 
tongue.  We  have  no  hesitation  in  pronouncing  it  the  best  exposition  of  the 
principles  and  construction  of  the  English  language  with  which  we  are  ac- 
quainted, as  comprised  in  a  work  of  so  small  compass.  Its  definitions  are 
more  exact  and  its  terminology  and  syntax  less  cumbrous  than  those  contained 
in  most  of  the  works  on  English  Grammar. 

Part  I.  is  an  elementary  treatise  containing  in  a  concise  manual  what  is 
essential  to  general  grammar,  and  essential  to  the  English. 

Part  II.  elaborates  the  subject  so  fully,  so  minutely,  and  comprehensively, 
that  no  important  difficulty  in  the  language,  as  the  author  thinks,  has  been 
omitted,  no  idiom  neglected,  and  no  result  wanting,  so  far  as  grammarians 
and  men  of  letters  have  decided. 

Part  III.  contains  a  collection  of  idioms,  difficult  grammatical  constructions, 
obsolete  words  and  phrases,  &c.  The  whole  being  to  us  the  most  interesting 
part  of  the  work,  and,  we  are  sure,  not  the  least  valuable  to  the  student, 
bringing  into  exercise  as  it  does  the  logic  of  language  and  the  polemics  of 
grammar.  It  opens  a  most  interesting  department  of  grammatical  research 
and  investigation,  and  we  only  wish  that  the  able  author  could  have  found  it 
consistent  with  the  limits  he  has  prescribed  to  himself  in  the  present  volume, 
to  treat  more  largely  on  the  subject  of  idiom,  and  especially  on  English  idioms. 
As  it  is,  we  have  a  scries  of  most  valuable  criticisms  on  certain  idiomatic  ex- 
pressions, and  a  cogent  refutation  of  many  innovations  which  the  usage  of  the 
"  great  vulgar"  is  attempting  to  foist  in  the  language. 


LIPPINCOTr,  GRAMBO,  &  CO.'S  PUBLIGATIONS.  31 

Having  examined  Bailey's  Grammar,  we  cordially  concur  in  the  opinions 
expressed  by  Dr.  McGuffey  and  the  National  Intelligencer. 

Rev.  T.  V.  MOORE,  D.  D., 

Richmond,  Va. 
Rev.  MOSES  D.  HOGE,  D.  D., 

Richmond,  Va. 
WM.  D.  COOKE,  Esq., 
Principal  N.  C.  Institute  for  Deaf,  Dumb,  and  Blind. 
Rev.  G.  WILSON  McPHAIL, 

Easton,  Fa. 
LYMAN  COLEMAN,  D.D., 
Principal  Presbyterian  Institute,  Philadelphia. 
Rev.  B.  M.  SMITH,  D.  D., 
Secretary  Presbyterian  Board  of  Publication. 
Rev.  A.  CONVERSE,  D.  D., 
Editor  Christian  Observer,  Philadelphia. 
JOHN  D.  IMBODEN, 

Superintendent  Public  Schools,  Fix. 
Rev.  WM.  B.  BROWNE, 
Principal  Augusta  Female  Seminary,  Va. 


From  James  A.  Waddell,  M.  D.,  Teacher  in  the  N.  C.  Institute  for  the  Deaf, 
Dumb,  and  Blind,  December  30,  1S53. 
I  have  found  Bailey's  Grammar  a  most  useful  and  acceptable  guide  in  my 
oral  instructions  of  the  blind  of  this  Institution.  I  am  so  fully  convinced  of 
its  superiority  to  all  others  that  I  expect  to  rely  upon  it  hereafter  as  a  standard 
authority  in  this  department  of  instruction,  I  recommend  it  to  all  teachers 
as  the  best  text-book  for  schools  of  every  grade  with  which  I  am  acquainted. 

JAMES  A,  WADDELL,  M.  D. 

From  Geo.  S.  BAcorf,  A.  M.,  Professor  and  Principal  of  Preparatory  Depart- 
ment of  Columbia  College,  Washington,  D.  C. 
I  am  happy  to  add  my  name  to  the  list  of  those  recommending  Bailey's  ex- 
cellent Grammar.     To  the  youth  preparing  for  the  College  or  University,  it 
is  invaluable,  and  I  hope  will  soon  be  generally  adopted. 

From  the  Southern  Presbyterian  Review,  S.  C. 
It  gives  us  pleasure  to  recommend  this  book  to  parents  and  teachers  of 
youth,  as  one  of  the  best,  in  important  respects  the  very  best,  elementary 
treatise  on  English  Grammar  which  has  come  under  our  notice.  It  is  system- 
atically and  philosophically  arranged,  at  least  when  the  wants  and  capacities 
of  youthful  learners  are  taken  into  view  ;  it  is  perspicuous,  direct,  simple, 
and  concise  in  explanation  and  definition  ;  it  commences  with  the  simple 
facts  of  the  language,  simply  and  graphically  stated,  and  advances  by  an  easy 
progress  to  those  views  and  principles  which  require  greater  knowledge  and 
enlargement  of  mind  to  comprehend.  The  chapter  on  idioms  is  worthy  the 
attention  of  the  most  advanced  students.  We  do  not  know  elsewhere  an  equal 
amount  of  knowledge  respecting  our  noble  mother  tongue  expressed  in  so  few 
words,  or  with  equal  judgment. 


From  S.  W.  Gilson,  School  Commissioner ,  Mahoning  County,  Ohio. 
After  an  examination  of  Bailey's  English  Grammar,  I  have  no  hesitation  in 
recommending  it  as  a  work  in  many  respects  superior  to  any  other  I  have  ex- 
amined, especially  in  the  conciseness  and  correctness  of  its  definitions,  the 
excellence  ard  order  of  its  arrangement,  and  the  clear  and  logical  discussion 
of  the  principles  of  language.     The  work  throughout  manifests  extraordinary 


32  LIPPINCOTT,  GRAMBO,  &  CO.'S  PUBLICATIONS. 

care,  and  bears  the  impress  of  a  superior  mind.  It  is  such  a  work  as  might 
be  expected  from  an  author  peculiarly  qualified  by  practical  experience  and 
vigorous  thought  for  such  a  labor. 


OiTice  of  the  Controllers  of  Public  Schools,  > 
First  School  District  of  Pennsylvania.     ) 

Philadelphia,  February  2,  1S54. 
At  a  meeting  of  the  Controllers  of  Public  Schools,  First  District  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, held  at  the  Controllers'  Chamber,  on  Wednesday,  February  1,  1854, 
the  following  Resolution  was  adopted: — 

Resolved,  That  Bailey's  English  Grammar  be  introduced  to  be  used  in 
the  Public  Schools  of  this  District. 

Signed  ROBERT  J.  HEMPHILL, 

Secretary. 


From  J.  W.  Sunderland,  LL.  D.,  President  of  the  Female  College, 
Perkiomen,  Pa. 
To  the  Publishers  : — 

I  have  examined  "  Bailey's  Manual  of  English  Grammar,"  and  believing  it 
to  be  superior  to  any  of  the  authors  now  in  general  use,  we  have  determined 
to  adopt  it  as  a  text-book  in  this  college. 

J.  WARREN  SUNDERLAND. 


From  Prof.  J.  L.  Campbell,  Washington  College,  Va. 

This  work  is  from  one  of  the  most  successful  teachers  of  Virginia.  It  bears 
everywhere  the  marks  of  originality,  and  of  being  the  production  of  an  inde- 
pendent thinker.  The  style  of  the  book  is  "  simple,  concise,  and  compre- 
hensive." This,  together  with  its  admirable  arrangement,  makes  it  just  such 
a  manual  as  the  teacher  wishes  to  place  in  the  hands  of  his  pupil. 

Besides  its  value  as  a  school  book,  it  possesses  one  feature  of  literary 
merit  which  should  commend  it  to  the  attention  of  editors  and  writers  of  every 
class  ;  in  fact,  to  the  attention  of  every  one  who  wishes  to  be  rightly  informed 
in  regard  to  the  peculiarities  of  our  language — I  refer  to  the  discussion  on 
"  Idioms."     This  part  alone  is  worth  more  than  the  cost  of  the  whole  book. 

Notice  from  the  Southern  Post,  Raleigh,  N.  C. 

Mr.  Bailey's  long  experience  in  teaching,  his  keen  analytical  powers,  and 
habit  of  close  investigation,  seem  to  fit  him,  in  an  eminent  degree,  for  such  a 
contribution  to  the  science  of  language  as  he  has  now  given  to  the  public. 

We  have  long  felt  than  an  English  Grammar  which  would  instruct  the 
learner  by  means  of  the  inductive  process,  and,  step  by  step,  unfold  to  the 
understanding  of  the  young  the  principles  of  our  tongue,  presenting  in  bold 
distinctness  the  great  outlines  of  the  framework  upon  which  it  is  constructed, 
was  probably  more  wanted  than  any  other  text-book  which  the  progressive 
spirit  of  the  times  could  suggest.  The  thanks  of  the  public  are  due  to  Mr. 
Bailey  for  his  laudable  effort  to  meet  this  demand. 

The  plan  of  this  Grammar  we  cannot  too  much  admire.  Arranged  in  suc- 
cessive parts,  by  which  the  mind  of  the  pupil  may  be  gradually  familiarized 
with  his  subject,  it  is  designed  to  follow  the  natural  laws  of  the  human  in- 
tellect, and  instruct  the  memory  through  the  medium  of  the  understanding. 

That  part  of  the  book  which  treats  of  "  Idioms"  evinces  much  laborious 
examination  and  independence  of  thought,  and  we  invite  especial  attention 
to  it  as  possessing  uncommon  interest  for  the  general  reader.  We  cordially 
agree  with  Dr.  McGuffey,  that  It  is  "superior  in  some  respects  to  any  Gram- 
mar of  our  language  now  before  the  public;"  and  we  add  to  this  our  confi- 
dent expectation  that  it  will  become  in  the  end  a  general  favorite. 


LIPPINCOTT,  GRAMRO,  &  CO.'S  PUBLICATIONS.  33 

Second  Notice  from  the  Southern  Pout  on  the -present  Edition. 

Before  the  publication  of  Bailey's  Grammar,  there  was  no  work  on  that 
subject  extant  in  tiie  language,  satisfactorily  adapted  to  the  purposes  of  in- 
struction. The  nature  of  the  subject  necessarily  demanded  a  combination  of 
qualities  never  met  with  in  a  single  text-book.  It  required  a  simple  arrange- 
ment, a  gradual  development,  a  lucid  analysis,  concise  definitions,  pointed 
applications,  and  a  clear,  bold,  intelligible,  and  philosophical  treatment  of 
English  idioms.  We  believe  Mr.  Bailey  is  the  first  writer  upon  grammar  who 
has  met  and  satisfied  these  demands,  and  that  he  has  prepared  a  system  of 
instruction  on  that  subject  which  presents  more  positive  merits  and  fewer 
faults  than  any  that  have  preceded  it. 

The  author  has  brought  to  his  task  an  experience  of  tliirty  years  as  a  prac- 
tical teacher,  great  depth  of  intellectual  resources,  and  philosophical  acute- 
ness  and  skill  in  the  use  of  his  powers  and  acquisitions,  which  all  who  know 
him  will  cheerfully  accord  to  him.  The  work  is  worthy  of  the  powers  devoted 
to  its  production.  It  is  equally  well  adapted  to  the  instruction  of  elementary 
classes  in  grammar,  and  to  serve  as  a  book  of  reference  for  the  more  advanced 
scholar.  .It  has  been  adopted  for  the  latter  purpose  by  Prof.  McGuffey,  of 
the  University  of  Virginia,  and  is  beginning  to  be  extensively  used  as  a  school 
book  both  North  and  South.  We  would  be  glad  to  see  it  supersede  all  others 
in  the  schools  of  North  Carolina,  and  believe  that  it  will  do  so  as  soon  as  its 
merits  become  sufficiently  well  known  throughout  the  State, 


From  the  Southern  Literary  Messenger. 
Mr.  Bailey  lias  certainly  made  more  than  one  forward  step  on  the  subject 
of  Grammar.  Hence,  we  hail  with  pleasure  the  appearance  of  this  second 
edition  of  his  admirable  work,  as  affording  increasing  facilities  for  aiding 
teachers  in  imparting  instruction  on  this  important  subject.  It  is  progressive 
and  systematic. 


From  Prof.  J.  W.  Rust,  Masonic  College,  Clarksville,  Tennessee. 
I  have  examined  with  much  care  Bailey's  English  Grammar.  Concise  and 
explicit  in  definitions,  simple  and  comprehensive  in  arrangement,  it  embodies 
much  information  not  to  be  found  in  any  other  vv'ork — is  well  adapted  to 
school-room  instruction,  and  will  doubtless  meet  what  it  justly  merits,  an 
extensive  use  among  American  teachers. 


Greensboro'  Female  College,  Ga.,  Jan.  1854. 
To  Rev.  RuFus  W.  Bailey — 

Atler  a  full  examination,  we  have  determined  to  introduce  your  Grammar 
as  a  text-book  in  our  College. 

Yours,  most  truly,  I.  S.  K.  AXSON, 

President. 


Fi-am  Rev.  S.  K.  Talmage,  D.  D.,  President  of  Oglethorpe  University, 
Georgia,  Feb.  22,  1S54. 
Rev.  RuFUS  W.  Bailey — 

Dear  Sir:  I  have  examined  your  Manual  of  English  Grammar  with  con- 
siderable care,  and  feel  no  hesitation  in  pronouncing  it  a  work  of  solid  merit. 
I  shall  use  my  best  efl'oris  to  have  it  adopted  by  the  Teachers'  Association  of 
Georgia,  as  possessing,  in  my  judgment,  claims  superior  to  any  other.  I  con- 
sider a  large  number  of  the  new  text-books  on  the  languages,  and  on  science 
generally,  as  impositions,  crying  evils — which,  under  the  pretence  of  simpli- 
tying  knowledge  and  facilitating  its  progress,  are  only  making  pupils  super- 
ficial. Your  work  is  certainly  an  honorable  exception.  It  is  original  and 
philosophical,  and  is  a  decided  improvement. 


34  LIPPINCOTT,  GRAMBO,  &  CO.'S  PUBLICATIONS. 

I  highly  approve  of  your  plan  of  advancing  students  by  holding  out  the 
prominent  parts  of  speech  and  giving  others  their  appropriate  subordinate 
place — of  impressing  upon  the  youthful  mind  and  memory  clearly  and  dis- 
tinctly, general  rules,  before  you  proceed  to  \.\\e  exceptions  and  complex  forms. 

Your  section  on  Idioms  is  invaluable,  and  must  exert  great  inlluence  in 
checking  the  strong  tendency  to  corruption  everywhere  visible.  I  trust  the 
bad  usages  of  the  day,  which  the  verbal  licentiousness  of  the  age  is  bringing 
in  upon  us  like  a  flood,  will  receive  their  death  blow  under  your  skilful  hand. 
With  two  or  three  minor  exceptions,  I  can  most  unhesitatingly  and  cordially 
indorse  your  whole  work. 

From  the  Richmond  Watchman  and  Observer. 

We  welcome  this  "  Manual"  to  our  schools.  It  supplies  a  long  and  deeply 
felt  want.  In  our  boyhood,  Murray,  in  some  form,  was  the  Grammar.  But 
while  it  was  concise  in  definition,  perspicuous  in  arrangement,  and  soundly 
philosophical  in  principle,  it  was  composed  in  the  language  in  which  adults 
should  be  addressed,  and  not  in  the  simpler  forms  of  speech,  suitable  for  the 
minds  of  children.  In  the  want  of  simpler  garb,  the  new  school  of  gramma- 
rians erred  on  the  other  extreme.  Instead  of  simplifying  language  alone,  they 
undertook  to  bring  down  grammar  from  its  place  among  the  sciences  to  the 
position  of  a  mere  art.  It  was  reduced  to  question  and  answer.  The  pupil's 
mind  was  not  taxed.  Nothing  was  left  for  the  teacher  in  the  way  of  explana- 
tion. The  book  undertook  to  do  everything.  Bullion's  and  others  have  in- 
troduced improvements,  but,  if  wo  do  not  greatly  err,  this  book  is  destined, 
and  that  deservedly,  to  supersede  all  others. 

The  great  distinguishing  feature  of  the  plan  of  the  work,  is  a  recognition  of 
the  teaching  of  nature  ;  that  we  learn  general  principles  first,  and  then  occupy 
the  mind  ivith  detail  and  exceptions. 

Indeed,  it  is  a  book  of  great  use  for  any  gentleman's  library,  as  the  author 
has,  with  great  labor  in  condensing,  comprised  in  the  compass  of  240  duo- 
decimo pages,  all  the  most  important  teachings  of  the  science — so  that  the 
work  may  be  truly  used  as  a  book  for  general  reference  in  language. 


From  the  Richmond  IVhig,  Nov.  1. 
The  principles  of  the  science  are  presented  in  a  lucid  arrangement.  The 
classifications  are  simple,  and  the  whole  development  of  the  subject  natural. 
It  is  full,  but  less  cumbrous  than  most  text-books  designed  for  the  use  of 
schools.  With  testimonies  from  high  sources,  and  a  testimony  from  the 
schools,  calling  for  a  second  edition  within  a  single  month,  there  is  reason  to 
expect  it  may  become  what  it  has  already  been  pronounced,  "  the  book  of  the 
age"  in  this  important  department  of  learning. 


From  the  Portland  Mirror,  Me. 

We  could  wish  a  long  interval  might  elapse  before  this  Grammar  is  super- 
seded by  another  in  our  vernacular  tongue.  It  strikes  us  as  being  as  near  an 
approximation  to  perfection  as  is  likely  to  be  reached  in  a  long  time  to  come. 
The  definitions  are  wonderfully  concise,  and  at  the  same  time  full  and  intelli- 
gible. The  classification  of  the  parts  of  speech  is  philosophical,  or  according 
to  their  nature  and  uses.  The  simple  elements  of  grammatical  structure  and 
analysis  are  presented  in  a  space  of  forty  pages,  and  embrace  the  fundamental 
principles  and  laws  of  the  language,  all  which  are  to  be  perfectly  learned  and 
fixed  in  the  memory,  and  their  perspicuity  is  such  as  to  make  it  no  severe 
task. 

In  Part  II.  the  author's  competency  for  his  work  is  signally  manifest.  The 
rules  ofsyntax  are  repeated  with  full  illustrations  of  almost  every  conceivable 
case  which  comes  under  each  and  every  rule. 


LIPPINCOTT,  GRAMBO,  &  CO.'S  PUBLICATIONS.  35 

The  pupil  will  find  his  way  pleasantly  through  many  difficulties  by  help  of 
Part  III. 

It  would  require  whole  columns  to  convey  any  adequate  idea  of  the  con- 
tents ol'this  book  :  let  it  suffice  to  say  that  the  author  has  gained  his  object. 

From  the  Christian  Observer. 
It  is  simple,  easy  to  be  understood,  concise,  presenting  the  principles  of 
Grammar  in  few  words  ;  and  comprehetisive,  giving  the  results  of  eitensive 
research  on  the  subject.  As  it  contains,  we  think,  decided  improvements  on 
other  compendiums  of  Grammar  in  general  use,  we  commend  it  with  confi- 
dence to  the  attention  of  teachers  and  of  the  Directors  of  our  Public  Schools. 


From  E.  N.  Grattan,  Proof  Reader. 

After  a  careful  revision  of  the  proof-sheets  of"  Bailey's  English  Grammar," 
before  passing  it  through  the  press,  I  can  cordially  recommend  the  work  as 
suitable  for  a  standard  of  reference  and  appeal  on  the  difficulties  in  Grammar 
frequently  met  with  and  often  requiring  the  notice  oftho  proofreader.  Tho 
clearness  of  its  definitions,  its  lucid  classifications  and  arrangement,  and  its 
solutions  of  difficult  sentences,  make  the  work  all  that  is  needed  in  this  de- 
partment. 

I  feel  convinced  that  printers  generally  will  find  this  Grammar  a  great 
assistance  in  their  profession.  Very  truly  yours, 

E.  N.  GRATTAN. 


TRACEY'S 

ARITHMETICAL  SERIES: 

COMPRISING 

THE  CHILD'S  ARITHMETIC,  THE  ELEMENTARY  ARITHMETIC, 

THE  SCIENTIFIC  AND  PRACTICAL  ARITHMETIC,  and 

THE  COMMERCIAL  AND  MECHANICAL  ARITHMETIC. 

WITH    KEYS    TO    THE 

SCIENTIFIC,  AND  PRACTICAL,  AND  COMMERCIAL  TREATISES. 

Designed  to  Guide  the  Teacher  in  carrying  out  the  Author's 
Process  of  Analysis. 

This  series  is  designed  to  furnish  a  full  and  complete  course  of 
instruction  and  practice  in  written  Arithmetic.  In  restricting  his 
course  mainly  to  ivritten  arithmetic,  the  author  designs  not  to  im- 
ply any  disparaging  view  of  mental  arithmetic.  The  requirements 
of  that  department  having  been  fully  met  by  works  previously 
issued,  he  has  preferred  to  restrict  his  course  chiefly  to  slate  exer- 
cises, believing  that  written  arithmetic,  although  longer  in  use,  has 
less  nearly  attained  the  desired  degree  of  perfection. 

The  first  of  the  Series,  The  Child's  Arithmetic,  is  a  treatise  on 
the  simple  elementary  rules  merely ;  taking  the  several  tables  of 
simple  numerical  combination  in  successive  sections,  and  giving 
corresponding  mental  and  written  exercises  in  tiie  order  of  conse- 
cutive progress,  and  adapted  to  the  capacity  o-f  the  child. 


36  LIPPINCOTT,  fiRAMBO,  &  CO.'S  PUBLICATIONS. 

The  Elementary  Arithmetic  is  designed  to  supply  a  want  here- 
tofore entirely  disregarded.  We  refer  to  what  ia  a  sine  qua  noa  in 
securing  a  correct,  prompt,  and  business-like  command  of  figures, 
viz  :  a  protracted  and  vigorous  drill  in  the  elementary  combinations 
of  numbers.  Addition  is  the  great  rule  of  numerical  computation, 
whether  we  regard  the  laboriousnesa  of  the  operation  or  the  extent 
of  its  ever3'-day  application. 

Neither  of  the  other  simple  rules  is  so  laborious,  and  in  neither 
of  them  are  liabilities  to  error  so  great,  as  in  the  simple  operation 
of  adding;  while  promptness  and  accuracy  secured  in  tho  latter, 
will  be  found  available  in  the  former.  They  all,  however,  require 
to  be  thoroughly  mastered,  as  a  foundation  for  future  successful 
practice.  It  is  the  design  of  this  elementary  treatise  to  furnish, 
both  in  variety  and  amount,  the  requisite  exercises. 

The  Scientifio  and  Practical  ARiTirjETic  covers  the  whole  field 
of  ordinary  numerical  computation.  In  this  work  the  design  of 
the  author  has  been  to  present  those  mod''.s  of  solution  which  are 
best  suited  to  call  forth  conscculice  reasoning  on  the  part  of  the 
scholar,  that  being  especially  requisite  to  secure  vigorous  intel- 
lectual growth. 

An  analogous  mode  of  solution,  when  the  numbers  concerned 
are  so  large  as  to  require  the  aid  of  the  pencil,  is  regarded  by  tho 
author  as  a  desideratum.  Such  a  mode  ha  claims  to  have  intro- 
duced— a  mode  which,  while  it  secures  consecutive  reasoning,  also 
secures  tho  desired  results  by  the  briefest  practical  process. 

In  addition  to  the  above  important  feature,  all  the  modes  of  ordi- 
nary arithmetical  solution  are  introduced,  illustrated,  and  explained. 

In  the  last  member  of  the  Series,  The  Commercial  and  Mecha- 
nical Arithmetic,  the  scholar  is  introduced  to  such  computations 
as  are  requisite  to  prepare  him  for  the  higher  departments  of  trade 
and  commerce,  for  the  exigencies  of  mechanical  life,  and  for  what- 
ever appertains  to  the  requirements  of  the  farm. 

These  works  are  introduced  in  part  or  entire  into  the  schools  of 
the  following  among  other  places:  Cleveland,  Mansfield,  Tiffin  City, 
Worthington,  Newark,  Granville,  Putnam,  M'Connellsville,  St. 
Clairsville,  New  Philadelphia,  Canal  Dover,  Canal  Fulton,  Waynes- 
burg,  Berlin,  Bellville,  &c.  in  Ohio:  also  at  Wheeling,  Va.,  Louis- 
ville, Ky.,  Indianapolis,  Ind.,  New  Haven,  Ct.,  in  Pennsylvania, 
New  Jersey,  and  in  many  prominent  schools  in  the  City  and  State 
of  New  York. 

Tho  following  notices  of  Tracey's  Arithmetic  by  some  of  the 
best  practical  teachers,  are  respectfully  submitted:  — 

An  extract  from  a  letter  written  by  Dr.  John  Williams,  Superintendent  of  the 
Union  School  at  Lancaster,  Ohio.  Br.  W.  is  ranked  among  the  'prominent 
mathematicians  of  the  State. 

"  I  am  higiily  pleased  with  your  Arithmetical  Series.  In  its  adaptedness  to 
make  ready  and  practical  arithmoticians,  and  to  prepare  young  persons  for 
the  actual  business  of  lite,  I  regard  your  series  as  l)eing  almost  beyond  com- 
parison superior  to  "inything  of  the  kind  I  have  met  vvitli." 


LIPPINCOTT,  GRAMBO,  &  CO.'S  PUBLICATIONS.  37 

Extract  from  a  letter  written  by  Prof.  Cooper,  SvpH  of  Union  Schools  at 
Akron,  Ohio. 

"  Permit  me  to  say,  the  more  I  examine  your  worka  the  more  am  I  con- 
vinced that  they  (the  series  taken  together)  will  soon  become  the  series  for 
our  State,  and  deservedly  so. 

"  The  Commercial  and  Mechanical  is  not  only  one  of  the  best,  but  t/ie  best 
work  for  the  object  it  has  in  view,  of  any  yet  published." 

Extract  from  a  letter  written  by  J.  E.  Dakbt,  StipH  of  Union  Schools  ai 
Berlin,  Ohio. 

"  I  have  devoted  what  time  I  could  command  to  the  examination  of  your 
Series  of  Arithmetics,  and  can  truly  say,  that  I  think  them  well  calculated  to 
facilitate  the  acquisition  of  that  important  branch  of  knowledge.  The  abbre- 
viations introduced  in  various  calculations  arc  new,  at  least  in  common  arith- 
metic, and  well  adapted  to  many  of  the  more  important  calculations  encoun- 
tered during  a  business  life. 

"  The  Commercial  Arithmetic,  I  however  esteem  the  crowning  excellence 
of  your  Series,  since  it  supplies  adeficiency  in  our  former  arithmetical  treatises, 
and  places  a  vast  amount  of  business  knowledge  within  the  reach  of  the 
Common  School  pupils,  which  previously  has  been  obtained  only  by  special 
means,  or  by  regular  apprenticeship. 

"  Our  Board  have  adopted  your  Elementary  and  Commercial  Arithmetic  for 
the  use  of  our  School." 


Worthington,  Ohio,  Juno  23,  18.54. 
Mr.  Tracey — 

Dear  Sir  :  I  have  examined  your  system  of  Arithmetic  from  beginning  to 
end,  and  am  well  pleased.  I  may  pronounce  it  the  Stenography  of  Arithmetic. 
I  have  made  a  clean  sweep  of  every  other  author,  and  do  not  intend  to  use 
any  other  Arithmetics  than  your  own.  Yours,  truly, 

VV.  II.  YOUNG. 


Clarksville,  Texas,  May  27,  1854. 
Mr.  Tracey —        * 

Dear  Sir  :  I  have  examined  your  Series  of  Arithmetics,  and  regard  them 
as  just  the  books  needed.  They  are  the  best  I  have  ever  examined.  I  am  in 
much  need  of  the  books  for  my  school.  Yours,  truly, 

J.  O.  REED. 


Wheeling,  Va.,  Nov.  15,  1854. 
The  undersigned.  Principals  of  the  Public  Schools  of  the  City  of  Wheeling, 
having  examined  Mr.  C.  Tracey 's  System  of  Arithmetics,  and  believing  them 
better  adapted  to  the  capacities  of  the  youth  under  our  charge,  than  those 
now  in  use,  do  not  hesitate  to  recommend  their  adoption  as  text-books  for  our 
schools.  J.  L.  FROHOCK,  1st  Ward. 

SAMUEL  W.  GASTON,  2d  Ward. 
F.  S.  WILLIAMS,  3d  Ward. 
S.  K.  KANE,  4th  Ward. 

Wheeling,  Va.,  Nov.  16,  1854. 
Prof.  Tracey — 

Dear  Sin:  Having  carefully  examined  your  Series  of 'Arithmetics,  I  am 
fully  persuaded  that  thoy  possess  superior  merit,  and  arc  well  adapted  to  the 
wants  of  our  schools. 

In  consultation  with  our  Trustees,  they  expressed  their  unanimous  approba- 
tion of  your  Arithmetics  ;  and  should  you  succeed  in  introducing  them  into 
the  other  schools  of  the  city,  you  may  rest  assured  they  will  be  introduced 
into  ours  also.  K.  A.  ARTHUR,  5th  Word. 


38  LIPPINCOTT,  GRAMBO,  &  CO.'S  PUBLICATIONS. 

Wheeling,  Va.,  Nov.  16,  1854. 
We  concur  in  the  recommendation  of  our  fellow  teachers. 

J.  C.  HERVEY, 
JAMES  C.  ORR, 
Principals  of  the  Linsley  Institute. 

In  accordance  with  the  above  recommendation,  the  entire  series  was 
adopted  by  the  unanimous  action  of  the  Board. 

They  were  at  the  same  time  adopted  by  the  Female  Seminary  of  the  same 
city  in  charge-of  Mrs.  Thompson. 


Mansfield,  Ohio,  June  27,  1854. 
Mr.  Tracey — 

Dear  Sir  :  We  have  been  testing  the  qualities  of  your  Arithmetical  Series 
for  the  last  nine  months,  and  so  evident  is  their  superiority  as  evinced  by  our 
success  while  using  them,  that  we  unhesitatingly  pronounce  them  the  best 
that  have  come  under  our  observation. 

We  would  further  add  that  in  methodical  arrangement  and  practical  utility, 
we  regard  them  as  unsurpassed  by  any  similar  works  now  in  use. 

M.  R.  DICKEY, 
A.  M.  AYERS, 
Teachers  in  Mansfield  Union  Schools. 

Putnam,  Ohio,  June  28,  1854. 
After  a  careful  examination  of  a  Series  of  Arithmetics  by  C.  Tracey,  A.M., 
I  am  satisfied  that  they  are  in  many  respects  superior  to  any  I  have  previously 
examined. 

The  whole  form  a  course  sufficiently  extensive  for  all  practical  purposes, 
and  have  evidently  been  prepared  by  a  thorough  and  practical  teacher. 

Z.  M.  CHANDLER, 
Superintendent  Public  Schools. 

Ashland,  Ashland  County,  Ohio,  July  3,  1854. 
The  "Commercial  and   Mechanical  Arithmetic"   is  truly  sui  generis.     I 
know  of  none  its  equal. 

The  Series  is  truly  valuable,  adding  much  to  the  already  rich  contributions 
to  arithmetical  science.  S.  M.  BARBER, 

I  Superintendent  Union  Schools. 


PIERPONT'S 
POPULAR  SERIES  OF  SCHOOL  READERS. 

New  Revised  Editions. 

1.  THE  LITTLE  LEAENER,  OS  RUDIMENTS  OF  READING;  ISmo. 

2.  THE  YOUNG  READER;  to  go  with  the  Spelling  Book. 

8.  THE  NEW  READER;  an  Introduction  to  the  National  Reader;  a  Se- 
lection of  Easy  Reading  Lessons. 

4.  THE  NATIONAL  READER;  being  a  Selection  of  Exercises  in  Reading 
and  Speaking. 

5.  THE  AMERICAN  FIRST  CLASS  BOOK;  or  Exercises  in  Reading  and 
Recitations  for  the  use  of  the  highest  class  of  Public  and  Private  Schools. 

These  works,  compiled  by  the  Rev.  John  Plerpont,  compose  a 
series,  which  is,  undoubtedly,  more  suitable  for  the  purposes  for 


LIPPINCOTT,  GRAMBO,  &  CO.'S  PUBLICATIONS.  39 

which  they  were  designed  than  any  previous  publications.  The 
last  three  of  these  books  are  used  exclusively  in  the  Boston  Public 
Schools,  and  have  been  republished  in  England.  There  is  a  decided 
advantage  in  possessing  sets  of  elementary  books  by  the  same  au- 
thor, who  has  pursued  a  similar  plan  with  each,  rising  step  by  step, 
and  who,  it  is  to  be  presumed,  would  be  better  able  to  preserve  the 
proper  gradation  of  style  and  matter  than  several  individuals  would. 
No  matter  which  appears  in  one,  is  inserted  in  either  of  the  others ; 
so  that  the  five  compilations  may  be,  and  ai'e  intended  to  be,  used 
in  different  classes  in  the  same  school  without  compelling  those  in 
the  lower  classes  to  anticipate  the  labors  or  pleasures  of  the  higher, 
or  requiring  them,  on  being  advanced  higher,  to  read  over  and  over 
again,  pieces  with  which  they  have  become  ftimiliai*  in  a  lower  class. 
The  matter  will  also  be  found  to  be  of  a  lively,  entertaining  cha- 
racter, calculated  to  arrest  and  fix  the  attention  of  youth,  without 
which,  all  experienced  teachers  are  aware,  it  is  in  vain  to  attempt 
to  make  good  readers.  Sensible  of  the  truth  of  this,  teachers  have 
long  complained  of  the,  want  of  attraction  in  the  matter  of  which 
the  works  generally  in  use  were  composed,  and  the  pupils  were 
compelled  to  go  through  their  exercises  in  them  as  a  task,  rather 
than  a  pleasure,  as  it  should  be  made. 


COLEMAN'S 

HISTORICAL     TEXT-BOOK, 

AND    ATLAS    OF    BIBLICAL    GEOGRAPHY. 

Containing  tlie  follotving  new  Ulaps,  engraved  on.  Steel, 

and  beautifully  colored. 

1.  Ancient  and  Modern  Jerusalem. 

2.  The  World,  as  known  to  the  Hebrews,  according  to  the  Mosaic  account. 

3.  The  Route  of  the  Israelites  through  the  Desert — Canaan  at  the  time  of 
the  Conquest. 

4.  Palestine  under  the  Judges  and  Kings,  with  the  distribution  of  the 
Twelve  Tribes. 

5.  Palestine  in  the  time  of  Christ. 

6.  The  Travels  of  our  Saviour. 

7.  The  Missionary  Tours  of  the  Apostle  Paul. 

8.  A  Chart  of  the  Elevation  of  the  Lands  of  the  Bible. 

COMPLETE    IN    ONE    VOLUME,    IJIPEKIAL    OCTAVO. 

I'iice  $1  5<). 

This  work  is  valuable  as  a  Text-Book  and  Atlas  for  schools, 
academies,  and  higher  institutions  of  every  grade.  It  will  assist 
the  young  to  read  and  understand  the  word  of  God,  without  preju- 
dice to  the  religious  sentiments  of  any  denomination  ;  indispensa- 
ble for  pupils  and  teachers  in  Sunday-schools  and  Bible-classes ; 
the  most  convenient  and  useful  book  of  reference  extant  for  fami- 
lies, theological  students,  and  clergymen. 

Learned,  without  the  ostentation  of  learning,  it  condenses  within 
a  small  space,  from  a  wide  range  of  Biblical  literature,  in  the 
English  and  German    languages,   tlie    latest   and    most   authentic 


40  LIPPINCOTT,  GRAMBO,  &  CO.'S  PUBLICATIOJN-S. 

results  in  the  history,  chronology,  and  geography  of  the  Bible. 
The  maps  are  engraved  in  the  highest  style  of  the, art,  from 
Kiepert's  Bible  Atlas,  adapted  to  the  latest  discoveries. 

The  publishers  select  the  following  from  many  recommendatory 
notices  of  the  work: — 

The  greatest  labor  in  the  preparation  of  the  work  has  been  bestowed  where 
it  is  least  likely  to  be  appreciated,  namely,  upon'the  Chronological  Table, 
■which  presents  a  tabular  view  of  the  leading  events  in  Jewish  History,  and 
the  synchronisms  of  these  events  with  profane  history  ;  and  the  Index,  which 
embodies  with  the  names  of  places  and  the  titles  of  subjects,  the  biblical 
references  to  each,  and  its  relation  to  the  map  or  chart.  We  cannot  doubt 
that  the  use  of  this  "Text-Book  and  Atlas"  in  schools,  would  render  the 
Bible  more  attractive  to  the  young,  and  would  form  a  taste  for  this  department 
of  study,  the  fruits  of  which  would  be  seen  in  the  next  generation  of  ministers 
and  teachers  of  the  Bible. — Independent,  New  ForA:. 

Dr.  Coleman  has  here  supplied  a  most  important  desideratum  in  the  litera- 
ture of  the  Bible,  in  a  work  alike  instructive  and  attractive  ;  and  one  important 
result  which  we  expect  from  it  is,  that  it  will  be  the  occasion  of  bringing  many 
young  persons  to  study  the  historical  parts  of  Scripture,  who  have  heretofore 
in  a  great  degree  neglected  them. — Puritan  Recorder. 

A  book  of  great  value  to  every  student  of  the  Bible.  It  is  not  designed  for 
the  learned  student  so  much  as  for  the  moderately  intelligent — for  the  Sab- 
bath-school teacher,  the  advanced  scholars  of  a  Bible-class,  &c.  To  all  such 
It  will  prove  a  perfect  thesaurus. — Traveller,  Boston, 

Invaluable  as  a  book  of  reference. — Hampshire  and  Franklin  Express,  Am- 
herst,  Mass. 

At  the  present  day  the  Bible,  in  its  history,  geography,  and  literature,  as 
auxiliary  to  a  knowledge  of  its  great  religious  truths,  should  be  the  great 
study  of  every  Christian.  In  this  interesting  and  learned  work  will  be  found, 
in  the  two  first-named  departments,  the  precise  helps  which  are  needed. — 
Christian  Mirror,  Portland,  Maine. 

Most  admirably  adapted  for  use  in  Bible  classes  and  Sunday-schools,  and  as 
a  class-book  in  academies,  &c.,  as  well  as  for  families. —  Vermont  Chronicle. 

The  localities  of  the  successive  historical  events  are  graphically  described, 
and  thug  made  to  illustrate  those  events,  and  to  inipretsthem  on  the  memory. 
It  is  an  excellent  text-book  for  students  and  Bible-classes,  and  a  valuable 
book  of  reference  for  ministers. — Christian  Herald,  Cincinnati. 

This  work  seems  to  be  a  complete  Vade-mecum,  and  an  indispensable  aid  to 
every  minister.  Sabbath-school  teacher,  and  instructor  of  the  young,  as  well 
as  an  invalualile  book  of  reference  in  every  family  where  the  Bible  is  read. — 
Columbian,  Columbus,  Ohio. 

We  do  not  hesitate  to  express  our  belief  that  it  is  the  best  work  of  its  kind 
extant.  Ofthe  amount  of  time  and  labor  required  for  the  various  and  extensive 
reading,  weighing  conflicting  testimonies,  tracing  out  obscure  suggestions, 
comparing  the  views  of  various  writers,  ami  iligesting  the  whole  matter  for 
such  a  work,  no  one  can  have  any  just  conception,  from  simply  looking  at  the 
results  when  brought  within  the  comparatively  small  compass  which  they 
occupy  ;  and  Dr.  Coleman  deserves  the  thanks  of  all  who  love  the  Scriptures 
for  his  fidelity  in  executing  his  task. — Presbyterian,  Philadelphia. 

It  is  a  wonderful  compend  of  biblical,  historical,  geographical,  and  ethno- 
logical knowledge,  arranged  in  the  most  lucid  order,  and  equally  available 
for  the  educated  teacher  in  the  Sabbath-school,  the  minister  in  the  study,  the 
student,  or  the  professor  in  thn  class-room. — Preshytrrian  Banner,  Phila- 
delph  in . 


LIPPINCOTT,  GRA.MBO,  &  CO.'S  PUBLICATIONS.  41 

Religious  teachers  of  every  grade,  and  of  all  evanfielical  sects,  will  find  in 
the  study  of  this  volume  very  material  aid  in  locating  the  historical  incidents 
of  the  Sacred  Scriptures,  here  succinctly  referred  to,  and  thus  gaiiiing  a  more 
vivid  and  lasting  impression  of  them. — Christian  Observer,  Philadelphia. 

The  immense  amount  of  matter  compressed  within  a  narrow  circle,  free 
from  all  dulness  in  its  details,  on  Biblical  Geography,  Chronology,  and  His- 
tory, with  a  most  copious  Index,  make  it  a  Vade-Mecum  to  the  student  and 
general  readers  of  the  Old  and  New  Testaments.  No  minister,  Sunday-school 
teacher,  or  educator  of  the  young,  should  be  without  it. — Ladies''  Christian 
Annual,  Philadelphia. 

The  present  work  fully  sustains  the  author's  well-established  reputation  for 
indefatigable  industry  and  accurate  research.  The  maps  are  beautifully  en- 
graved on  steel,  giving  the  result  of  the  most  recent  researches  in  the  depart- 
ment of  Sacred  Geography.  Tiie  general  Index,  at  the  close  of  the  volume, 
is  not  the  least  among  the  helps  which  it  offers  to  the  Biblical  student.  The 
treatise  deserves,  and  will,  vvc  doubt  not,  receive  an  extended  circulation. 
It  is  a  convenient  manual  for  schools  of  all  grades, — Bihliotheca  Sacra  and 
American  Biblical  Repository. 

As  a  manual  on  the  subjects  indicated  by  its  title,  this  work  is  fir  beyond 
anything  heretofore  published  in  English.  The  maps  are  founded  on  Kiepert's, 
the  best  extant.  The  text  consists  of  two  parts — the  first  treating  of  the  Old 
Testament;  the  second,  of  the  New;  and,  under  each,  the  history  and  geo- 
graphy are  treated  together,  as  they  should  always  be  studied.  To  read  his- 
tory without  geography  is  to  put  out  one  of  your  eyes. 

One  would  think  that  in  a  Christian  land  the  history  and  geograpliy  of  the 
Bible  would  form  a  main  branch  of  study  for  youtli.  The  pretence  that  text- 
books are  wanting  can  avail  no  longer;  here  is  one  in  every  way  adapted  to 
the  object.  We  hope  it  will  find  its  way  into  our  Christian  families,  and  into 
our  schools  of  all  classes  as  the  best  aid  to  a.  knowledge  of  the  facts  and  places 
of  the  Bible. — Methodist  Quarterly. 


A  NEW  PRACTICAIi  WORK  OJI  CHEMISTRY. 


GENERAL  NOTIONS  OE  CHEMISTM. 

BY  J.   PELOUSE  AND  E.   FREMY, 
Translated  from  the  French,  by  EBMUHD  C.  EVANS,  M.  D. 

ONE    VOLUJIE,    LARGE    12jI0. 
Illustrated  with  Tv/enty-eight  Colored  Engravings. 

Auihor''s  Preface. 

This  work  is  intended  for  persons  who,  unaccustomed  to  scientific  studies, 
wish  to  acquire  a  general  knowledge  of  Chemistry  and  its  principal  applica- 
tions. 

Among  the  numerous  flicts  which  compose  this  science,  we  have  chosen 
those  which  recommend  themselves  by  their  importance  in  the  arts;  these 
we  have  attempted  to  make  clear  by  freeing  them  from  formulas  and  details 
purely  scientific,  which  we  have  given  in  other  works. 

To  render  our  explanations  more  intelligible,  we  have  (when  desirable) 
accompanied  them  with  pLitPs  which  fiiitlifiilly  represent  the  form  and  arrange- 
ment of  apparatus  used  in  laboratories  and  maiuifactories. 

Our  object  will  have  been  gained,  if  the  ''  (General  Notions  of  Chemistrt" 
contribute  to  develop  a  taste  for  a  science  which  renders  such  great  services 
to  the  industrial  arts,  that  ignorance  of  its  first  elements  is,  at  this  day,  inad- 
missible. 


43  LIPPINCOTT,  GRAMBO,  &  CO.'S  PUBLICATIONS. 

THE  BIBLeIiEADING  EOOkT" 

COXTAINING 

SUCH  PORTIONS  OF  THE  OLD  AND    NEW  TESTAMENTS    AS  FORM  A  CONNECTED  NARRA- 
TIVE, IN  THE  EXACT  WORDS  OF  SCRIPTURE,  AND  IN  THE  ORDER  OF 
THE  SACRED  BOOKS  ;    OF  GOD's  DEALINGS  WITH  MAN, 
AND  man's  DUTIES  TO  GOD. 

Prepared  by  MSS.  SARAH  J.  HALE. 

ONE  VOLUME,  12mO.,  NEATLY  BOUND. 

Extracts  from  Letters  to  the  Editor. 
"  The  substance  of  the  Bible  will  be,  by  your  plan,  presented  in  a  condensed 
and  attractive  form,  and  reduced  to  a  size  which  the  youthful  mind  may  well 
be  supposed  competent  to  receive  and  digest."  J.  P.  DURBIN. 

"  I  have  had  some  experience  in  the  work  of  education,  and  were  I  still 
thus  engaged,  should  at  once  adopt  the  work  as  a  regular  reading  book,  and 
hail  it  as  a  useful  auxiliary  in  inspiring  a  love,  and  increasing  a  reverence  for 
the  precious  Word  of  God  in  the  youthful  mind."        JOHN  DOVVLING, 

Pastor  of  Sansom  St.  Church,  Philadelphia. 


"Everything  calculated  to  promote  a  taste  for  the  Scriptures,  especially 
among  the  young,  merits  cordial  approbation  and  encouragement.  Such  a 
selection  as  Mrs.  Hale  proposes  to  make,  if  well  executed  on  her  plan,  would 
hardly  fail,  in  the  writer's  opinion,  to  have  this  effect." 

ALONZO  POTTER. 


"To  arrange  in  due  relations  the  preceptive  teachings  of  Scripture;  to 
link  together  prophecies  and  their  accompaniment,  will  do  good  and  prove 
acceptable  to  a  large  class  of  parents,  teachers,  and  children." 

WM.  BACON  STEVENS. 


"  The  work  will  be  a  valuable  contribution  to  our  religious  and  educational 
literature,  and  cannot  fail  to  facilitate  the  work  of  imparting  a  wholesome 
religious  tone  to  our  national  education."  T.  STORK, 

Pastor  of  St.  Mark's  Lutheran  Church. 


"  From  repeated  explanations  of  the  plan  of  your  '  Bible  Reading  Book,' 
as  well  as  from  a  cursory  examination,  the  undersigned  is  fully  impressed  with 
the  conviction  that  such  a  work,  comprising  a  continuous  series  of  selections 
from  the  historical,  prophetic,  devotional,  and  practical  parts  of  the  Scrip- 
tures, would  assist  the  young  to  form  a  more  intelligent  idea  of  the  scope 
and  design  of  the  Word  of  God,  and  happily  influence  them  to  read  it  with 
greater  diligence  and  intelligence."  LYMAN  COLEMAN. 

"I  have  been  much  interested  in  the  examination  of  the  plan  of  your  forth- 
coming work,  which  you  have  kindly  submitted  to  my  inspection.  'The 
Bible  Reading  Book'  will,  I  believe,  prove  eminently  useful." 

H.  C.  LIVINGSTON. 


♦'Having  learned  the  plan  of  your  proposed  work,  'The  Bible  Reading 
Book,'  and  examined  the  specimens  you  have  been  kind  enough  to  put  under 
my  eye,  I  am  prepared  to  commend  both  its  design  and  execution." 

THOMAS  BRAINERD. 


LIPPINCOTT,  GRAMBO,  &  CO.'S  PUBLIC A.TIONS.  43 

CLEVELAND'S    MILTON. 

T  II  E 

POETICAL  WORKS  OF  JOHN  MILTON, 

WITH    A    LIFE    OF   THE    AUTHOR; 

PRELIMINARY  DISSERTATIONS    ON    EACH    POEM  ;    NOTES,  CRITICAL,  AND    EXPLA- 
NATORY ;    AN  INDEX  TO  THE  SUBJECTS  OF  PARADISE  LOST  ;    AND  A 
VERBAL  INDEX  TO  ALL  THE  POEMS. 

Edited  by  CHARLES  DEXTER  CLEVELAND. 

ONE    VOLUME,    12  MO. 
NOTICES    OF    THE    PRESS. 

We  regard  it  as,  in  all  respects,  the  best,  most  convenient,  and  cheapest 
edition  ofMilton's  Poems  yet  published. — Evening  Bulletin. 

It  is,  indeed,  the  best  and  handsomest  cheap  form  of  a  classic  work  we 
have  seen  in  an  age.  It  should,  and  will,  displace  all  common  articles  in  the 
market. — National  Era. 

Undoubtedly  it  is  the  edition  of  Milton,  thus  far,  and  as  such  we  commend 
it. —  Christian  Observer. 

It  is  an  edition  which  cannot  fail  to  be  received  with  the  greatest  favor. — 
North  American. 

It  is  indispensable  even  to  those  who  possess  the  most  costly  edition  of 
Milton. — Daily  Register. 

In  a  word,  we  can  very  cordially  commend  this  edition  of  Milton  as  de- 
serving very  special  patronage. — Presbyterian. 

Indispensable  to  the  table  of  every  educated  family,  and  the  library  of  every 
scholar. — Literary  Gazette. 

Unquestionably  the  best  edition  of  the  immortal  bard  now  before  the 
English  or  American  public. —  Western  Christian  Advocate. 

His  Index  to  the  subjects  of  Paradise  Lost,  and  his  verbal  Index  of  all  the 
Poems,  constitute  the  most  admirable  feature  of  his  editorship,  and  ihey  indi- 
cate a  knowledge  so  intimate  that  it  does  honor  no  less  to  his  mothudical 
hand  than  to  his  loving  enthusiasm. — Knickerbocker, 


EPITOME   OF 

GREEK  AND  ROMAN  MYTHOLOGY. 

WITH  EXPLANMORV  NOTES  AND  k  VOCABULARY. 
BY  JOHN  S.  HART,  LL.D. 

ONE    VOL.    12  MO. 

RECOMMENDATIOX.S. 

From  G.  Emlen  Hare,  D.  D.,  Principal  of  the  Academy  of  the  Protestant 

Episcopal  Church,  Philadelphia. 
I  have  no  doubt  that  Harfs  Mythology  will  prove  a  valuable  help  to  those 
who  are  engaged  in  the  business  of  instruction. 

From  the  Rev.  J.  McClintock,  J).  D.,  author  of  McClintock''s  Latin  Series, 
Editor  of  the  Methodist  Quarterly  Review,  ^-c. 

The  "  De  Dies  et  Ilcroibus"  was  one  of  the  first  scliool  books  put  into  my 
hands  in  boyhood,  and  I  have  very  pleasant  recollections  indeed  of  it.  I  am 
very  glad  tiiat  it  has  been  republished,  and  am  sure  that  with  Prof.  Hart's 
valuable  notes  and  questions  it  will  make  an  excellent  text-book,  which  I 
hope  will  be  widely  introduced. 


4t  LIPPINCOTT,  GRAMBO,  &  CO.'S  PUBLICATIONS. 


Fromihe  Rev.  T.  W .  Cattei.1.,  Principal  of  the  Edgehill  School,  Princeton,  N.J. 
Prof.  MolTatt,  of  Princeton  College,  has  hanfled   me  a  copy  of  your  Greek 
anil  Roman  Mythology.     I  am  so  much  pleased  with  it  that  I  have  ordered  a 
number  of  copies  for  the  purpose  of  introducing  it  into  my  classes. 


From  the  Rev.  James  C.  ]Moffat,  Professor  of  the  Latin  Language  and 

Literature  in  the  College  of  New  Jersey. 
1  think  Hart's  Greek  and  Roman  Mythology  an  excellent  work  for  young 
clnssical  students,  presenting  them  at  once  with  good  Latin  reading,  and  with 
information  calculated  to  throw  light  upon  their  after  progress  among  ancient 
authors. 

From  Wm.  H.  Aj.len.  I.L.  D.,  President  of  the  Girard  College. 

"  Hart's  Epitome  of  Greek  and  Roman  Mythology"  is,  in  my  opinion,  well 
adapted  for  the  use  of  students  who  are  preparing  for  College,  especially  as 
it  will  serve  the  double  purpose  of  initiating  them  into  Latin  and  IVIythology 
at  the  same  time.  The  tables  of  grammatical  forms,  the  questiotfs  on  My- 
thology and  History,  the  Explanatory  Notes  and  Vocabulary  are  valuable  fea- 
tures of  the  work,  and  will  not  fail  to  facilitate  the  progress  of  learners.  I 
am  glad  to  observe  that  the  quantity  of  the  words  has  been  marked  both  in 
the  text  and  the  vocabulary. 

It  gives  me  much  pleasure  to  commend  this  book  to  the  favorable  notice  of 
classical  teachers  and  students. 

From  A.  M.  Wiggins,  A.M.,  Principal  of  the  Newcastle  Institute,  Delaware. 
Having  carefully  examined  "  Hart's  Greek  aud  Roman  Mythology,"  I  con- 
eider  it  an  excellent  work  upon   the  suhject,  and  cheerfully  recommend  the 
same.     The  work  has  been  adopted  as  a  text-book  in  our  institution. 

The  Publishers  would  particularly  call  the  attention  of  Teachers  to  the 
above  new  and  valuable  School  Jook,  and  have  presented  above  a  few  of  the 
numerous  testimonials  which  they  have  received,  in  favor  of  its  general  in- 
troduction. 


I.  I P  P I  N  C  O  T  T '  S 

CABINET  HISTORIES  QY  THE  STATES. 

FiFlST    SERIES    OF   TWELVE   VOLUMES.      ^ 

NOW    COMPLETE. 

Edited  by  WM.   11.  CARPENTER  and  T.  S.  ARTHUR. 
The  publishers  of  this  important  series  are  happy  to  announce  the  comple- 
tion of  the  first  portion,  embracing  twelve  volumes.     These  are:  — 

1.  Tha  History  of  Virginia.  7.  Tho  History  of  Hew  Jersey. 

2.  "  "  New  York.  3.  "  "  Kentucky. 

3.  "  "  Massachusetts.  9.  "  •'  Ohio. 

4.  "  "  Georgia.  10.  "  "  Tennessee. 

5.  "  "  Cor.iieoticnt.  11.  "  "  Vermont. 

6.  "  "  Pennsylvania.  13.  "  "  Illinois. 

It  is  scarcely  necessary  to  say  here  what  has  been  so  oflen  repeated  by  the 
press,  and  by  men  of  education,  discrimination,  and  intelligence  all  over  the 
country,  that  these  histories  are  carefully  written,  thoroughly  reliable,  and 
eminently  adapted  to  the  purposes  for  which  they  are  designed,  viz:  to  fur- 
nish a  series  of  American  reading  books  for  lamilies,  schools,  and  libraries, 
both  public  and  private,  valuable  and  appropriate  in  every  particular. 

The  very  basis  of  an  intelligent  love  of  country  is  a  knowledge  of  its  His- 
tory [  therefore,  the  basis  of  every  public  and   private  library  should  be  a 


LIPPINCOTT,  GRAMBO,  &  OO.'S  PUBLICATIONS.  45 

clearly  written  history  of  the  State  and  the  Country.  Hitherto,  there  have 
been  no  compact,  well-digested  histories  of  the  States  in  our  confederation. 
With  an  exception  or  two,  all  that  have  been  written  are  diffuse,  documentary, 
and  voluminous.  Many  of  the  States  have  no  history  but  what  lies  buried  in 
old  newspapers  and  State  documents,  or  scattered  through  the  general  his- 
tories of  the  United  States.  To  gather,  collate,  and  digest  such  materials,  and 
to  write  out  the  history  of  an  individual  State,  therefore,  is  no  light  task  ;  yet 
Buch  is  the  work  undertaken  by  the  authors  of  this  series,  and  the  above 
twelve  volumes  attest  their  industry,  skill,  labor,  and  thorough  accuracy. 

The  editors  who  have  charge  of  this  important  work,  have  called  in  the  aid 
of  careful  and  intelligent  writers,  in  order  to  forward  the  series  as  rapidly  as 
possible.  But  every  work  not  written  by  them  is  thoroughly  revised  and 
compared  with  the  original  documents;  and  they  hold  themselves  responsi- 
ble for  the  accuracy  of  each  volume.  The  public  may,  therefore,  rest  assured 
that  these  histories  are  all  that  could  be  desired. 

There  will  be  a  volume  for  every  State  in  the  Union.  The  second  series 
of  twelv  ^volumes  may  be  looked  for  as  early  as  their  careful  production 
will  admit. 

NOTICES   OP   THE   PRESS. 

Thousands  of  persons,  old  as  well  as  young,  will  be  tempted  to  read  such 
volumes  as  these,  and  thus  get  a  general  knowledge  of  the  history  of  the 
several  States,  who  would  have  neither  time  nor  ability  to  grapple  with  the 
larger  histories. — Boston  Traveller. 

We  hope  to  see  the  whole  histories  introduced  into  the  public  and  private 
schools  throughout  the  country. — Philadelphia  City  Item. 

We  predict  great  popularity  for  the  series. — Philadelphia  Evening  Bulletin. 

Written  with  that  impartiality  without  which  a  history  is  worthless. — God- 
man^s  Family  Friend. 

This  will  be  of  great  practical  value  in  extending  a  history  of  the  individual 
States. — Boston  Journal. 

Written  in  a  polished  and  pleasant  style. — N.  Y.  Book  Trade. 

Every  library  should  be  considered  incomplete  without  the  "  Histories  of 
the  States." — Germantown  Telegraph. 

Elaborate  and  well  written. — Boston  Olive  Branch. 

The  value  of  such  a  series  cannot  be  too  highly  estimated. — Am.  Courier. 

They  are  eminently  adapted  both  to  interest  and  instruct,  and  should  have 
a  place  in  the  family  library  of  every  American. — N.  Y.  Courier  and  Enquirer. 

For  school  libraries,  and  indeed  for  all  libraries,  the  series  will  be  found  of 
great  value. — Buffalo  Daily  Courier. 

As  a  work  for  the  young,  we  know  of  none  more  suitable  to  put  into  their 
hands,  and  if  the  whole  series  should  prove  like  this  volume  (New  York),  it 
will  form  an  admirable  and  most  useful  work  to  be  placed  in  the  common 
scliool  library  as  well  as  on  the  shelves  of  the  general  reader. — Detroit  Daily 
Advertiser. 

An  enterprise,  which,  if  it  continues  to  be  executed  as  well  as  thus  far, 
will  fill  an  important  vacuum  in  our  literature,  and  do  much  to  cement  the 
bonds  of  union  between  the  different  sections  of  the  Republic. — Yankee  Blade. 

They  contain  the  very  pith  and  marrow  of  the  record,  from  the  earliest 
periods  down  to  the  present  time.  The  volumes  are  very  elegtiUy  printed. 
— Albany  Express. 

It  is  a  capital  idea  and  well  carried  out. — Hartford  Courant. 

The  idea  is  an  excellent  one,  and  the  gentlemen  selected  will  do  their  part 
well.  We  are  euro  that  the  series  will  be  welcomed  all  over  the  land,  and 
will  find  a  place  in  thousands  of  school  nnd  fainily  libraries. — Clinton  Herald. 

Tliey  should  be  read  by  all  who  would  know  the  annals  of  our  country,  anii 
the  wild  legions  on  v.hich  our  future  epics  and  histories  are  to  be  founded. — 
Louisiana  Courier. 


46  LTP.PINCOTT,  GRAMBO,  &  CO.'S  PUBLICATIONS. 

I^.  G.  &,  Co.  a!so  pu8}lisli  tSae  fbllowiug  Valuable 
and  Popular  Sciiool  ISooks. 

SPELLERS. 

COMLY'S  SPELLING-BOOK,  Bonsall's  edition. 

WEBSTER'S  PICTORIAL  SPELLER. 

TICKNOR'S  COLUMBIAN  SPELLER, 

BENTLEY'S  PICTORIAL  DEFINER,  2000  cuts. 

HAZEN'S  SPELLER  AND  DEFINER,  new  edition,  enlarged. 

READERS. 

COMLY'S  READER  AND  BOOK  OF  KNOWLEDGE. 

BURLEIGH'S  AMERICAN  SERIES  PRIMARY  SCHOOL  READERS, 
Nos.  I  and  2— Little  Thinker— The  Thinker,  a  Moral  Reader. 

AMERICAN  MANUAL,  by  J.  B.  Burleigh. 

ELEMENTS  OF  THE  LAWS;  or.  Outlines  of  the  Civil  and  Criilflnal  Law 
in  force  in  the  United  States,  and  the  several  States  of  the  Union.  De- 
signed for  popular  use,  by  the  Hon.  Thomas  J.  Smith. 

THE  BEAUTIES  OF  HISTORY,  by  L.  M.  Stretch;  with  numerons  en- 
gravings. 

MURRAY'S   READER,  large  type. 

GRIGG  &  ELLIOT'S  SERIES,  Nos.  I,  2,  3,  4,  and  5. 

PIERPONT'S  POPULAR  SERIES  OF  SCHOOL  READERS,  new  revised 
edition:  1.  The  Little  Learner  ;  or.  Rudiments  of  Reading,  ISmo.  2.  The 
Young  Reader;  to  go  with  the  Spelling  Book.  3.  The  New  Reader;  an 
Introduction  to  the  National  Reader ;  a  Selection  of  Easy  Reading  Lessons. 
4.  The  National  Reader;  being  a  Selection  of  Exercises  in  Reading  and 
Speaking.  5.  The  American  First  Class  Book  ;  or  Exercises  in  Reading 
and  Recitations  for  the  use  of  the  highest  class  ofPublic  and  Private  Schools. 

ARITHMETICS. 
TRACY'S  SERIES,  comprising   The  Child's  Arithmetic— The  Elementary 

Arithmetic — The  Practical  and  Scientific  Arithmetic — The  Commercial  and 

Mechanical  Arithmetic — with  keys  to  each. 
EMERSON'S  FIRST  AND  SECOND    PART   ARITHMETIC,  AND  KEY. 
SMILEY'S  ARITHMETIC,  AND  KEY 
TICKNOR'S  YOUTH'S  COLUMBIAN  CALCULATOR. 
TICKNOR'S  COLUMBIAN  CALCULATOR,  AND  KEY. 

DICTIONARIES. 

WALKER'S  PRONOUNCING  DICTIONARY. 

WEBSTER'S  ELEMENTARY  DICTIONARY;  or,  Sequel  to  his  Spelling 

Book. 
GRIMSHAW'S  ETYMOLOGICAL  DICTIONARY. 
LEXICON  OF  TERMS  USED  IN  NATURAL    HISTORY,  by  W.   S.    W. 

Ruschenberger. 
BALDWIN'S  PRONOUNCING  GAZETTEER,  new  edition,  enlarged. 
BALDWIN'S  VOCABULARY  OF  ENGLISH  PRONUNCIATION. 
GRIMSHAW'S  GENTLEMEN'S  AND  LADIES'  LEXICON. 

HISTORIES. 

GRIMSHAW'S  UNITED    STATES,    ENGLAND,    GREECE,    ROME, 

FRANCE,  AND  NAPOLEON,  with  Questions. 
CABINET  HISTORIES  OF  ALL  THE  STATES,  in  separate  volumes,  for 

Schools  or  Libraries. 


LIPPINCOTT,  GRAMBO,  &  CO.'S  PUBLICATIONS.  47 

FIRST  BOOKS  OF  NATURAL  HISTORY,  for  Schools,  Colleges,  and 
Families.  By  W.  S,  W.  Ruschenberger,  M.  D.,  containing.  Elements  of 
Anatomy  and  Physiology — Elements  of  Mammalogy — Elements  of  Ornitho- 
logy— Elements  of  Herpetology  and  Ichthyology — Elements  of  Conchology. 
— Elements  of  Entomology — Elements  of  Botany — Elements  of  Geology. 

LARDNER'S  KEIGIITLEY'S  UNIVERSAL  HISTORY,  comprising  a  Con- 
cise History  of  the  World  from  the  Earliest  Period.  By  Thomas  Keightley, 
author  of  Mythology,  Histories  of  Greece  and  Rome,  Eingland,  &c.  Re- 
vised and  brought  down  to  the  present  period  ;  with  Questions  and  Engrav- 
ings.    1  vol.  I2mo.  cloth,  embossed. 

BIGLAND'S  NATURAL  HISTORY,  with  Questions  in  Book. 

SPEAKERS. 

THE  COLUMBIAN  ORATOR. 

THE  AMERICAN  PRECEPTOR. 

WALKER'S  MANUAL  OF  ELOCUTION  AND  ORATORY,  by  Culver. 

MATHEMATICAL. 

TICKNOR'S  MENSURATION,  with  Key. 

CHAUVENET'S  PLANE  AND  SPHERICAL  TRIGONOMETRY,  new 
edition. 

BONNYCASTLE'S  ALGEBRA,  with  Notes  and  Observations,  designed  for 
the  use  of  Schools.  To  which  is  added  an  Appendix  on  the  Application  of 
Algebra  to  Geometry.  By  James  Ryan.  Also,  a  large  Collection  of  Prob- 
lems for  Exercises,  original  and  selected.    By  John  F.  Jenkins,  A.  M.  12mo. 

KEY  TO  BONNYCASTLE-S  ALGEBRA,  containing  correct  Solutions  of 
all  the  Questions.     By  James  Ryan.     ISmo. 

PLAYFAIR'S  EUC.LID,  a  new  edition,  revised  and  corrected,  for  the  use  of 
Schools  and  Colleges  in  the  United  States.     By  James  Ryan. 

RYAN'S  ALGEBRA. 


CLASSICAL   WORKS. 

LATIN    AND    GREEK. 

A  NEW  LATIN-ENGLISH  DICTIONARY,  on  the  basis  of  the  School  Dic- 
tionary of  Ingersley;  with  Additions  from  the  Lexicons  of  Koch  and  Klotz. 
By  George  R.  Crooks,  A.  M.,  late  of  Dickinson  College  ;  and  Alexander  J. 
Schem,  of  the  Universities  of  Bonn  and  Tubingen.     In  one  volume,  8vo. 

HORACE  DELPHINI. 

VIRGIL  DELPHINI. 

LIBER  PRIMUS,  by  Dillaway. 

HALDEMAN'S  ELEMENTS  OF  LATIN  PRONUNCIATION. 

CASSERLEY'S  LATIN  PROSODY. 

LATIN  READER,  Parts  I.  and  II.,  by  Frederick  Jacobs  and  Frederick  Wm. 
Doring;  with  Notes  and  Illustrations,  partly  translated  from  the  German, 
and  partly  drawn  from  other  sources.     By  J.  D.Ogilby.      12mo. 

MAIR'S  INTRODUCTION  TO  LATIN  SYNTAX,  from  the  Edinburgh 
Stereotype  Edition  ;  revised  and  corrected  by  A.  R.  Carson,  Rector  of  the 
High  School  of  Edinburgh.  To  which  is  added.  Copious  Exercises  upon 
the  Declinable  Parts  of  Speech,  and  an  Exemplification  of  the  several 
Moods  and  Tenses.     Bv  David  Patterson,  A.  M.   12mo. 

ADAMS'S  LATIN  GRAMMAR,  with  numerous  Expansions  and  Additions, 
designed  to  make  the  work  more  elementary  and  complete,  and  to  facilitate 
the  acquisition  of  a  thorough  knowledge  of  the  Latin  language.  By  James 
D.  Johnston,  A,  M.  12mo. 


48  LIPPINCOTT,  GRAMBO,  &  CO.'S  PUBLICATIONS. 


SALLUST,  with  English  Notes.     By  Henry  R.  Cleveland,  A.  M.  12rao. 

CICERO  DE  OFFICIIS,  DE  .SENECTUTE,  DE  AMICITI^,  new  edition, 
with  Valpy's  notes. 

CLEVELAND'S  GRECIAN  ANTIQUITIES. 

GROVE'S  GREEK  AND  ENGLISH  DICTIONARY. 

WILSON'S  GREEK  TESTAMENT. 

EPITOME  OF  GREEK  AND  ROMAN  MYTHOLOGY,  with  Explanatorv 
Notes  and  a  Vocabulary.     By  .John  S.  Hart,  LL.  D.     1  vol.  12mo. 

LEUSDEN'S  GREEK  AND  LATIN  TESTAMENT. 

JACOB'S  GREEK  READER,  Corrected  and  Improved;  with  numerous 
Notes,  Additions,  and  Alterations,  not  in  any  former  edition  j  also,  a  co- 
pious Lexicon.     By  Patrick  S.  Casserley,  T.  C.  D.     8vo. 

CASSERLEY'S  TRANSLATION  OF         do. 

HUTCHINSON'S  XENOPHON. 

GR^CA  MINORA,  with  English  Notes  and  a  Lexicon. 

VALPY'S  GREEK  GRAMMAR,  greatly  Enlarged  and  Improved.  By 
Charles  Anthon,  LL.  D.  ISrao. 

FRENCH    AND    GERMAN. 

LE  BRUN'S  TELEMAQUE. 

LADREYT'S  CIIRESTOMATHE  FRANCAISE. 

LEVIZAC'S  FRENCH  GRAMMAR,  revised  and  corrected  by  Mr.  Stephen 
Pasquier,  M.  A.;  with  the  Voltairian  Orthography,  according  to  the  Dic- 
tionary of  the  French  Acadeniy. 

LE  BRETHON'S  FRENCH  GRAMMAR,  especially  designed  for  persons 
who  wish  to  study  the  elements  of  that  language. 

RECUEIL  CHOISI  DE  TRAITS  HISTORIQUES  ET  DE  CONTES  MO- 
RAUX,  by  N.  VVanastrocht,  with  the  signification  of  words  in  English  at 
the  bottom  of  each  page  ;  for  the  use  of  young  persons  of  both  sexes  ;  cor- 
rected and  enlarged. 

VOLTAIRE'S  HISTORY  OF  CHARLES  XII.,  in  French. 

FULBORN'S  GERMAN  INSTRUCTOR,  a  new  and  natural  method  of  learn- 
ing to  read  and  speak  the  German  language,  1  vol.  12mo.,  half  roan,  su- 
perior to  Ollendorff. 

KUNST'S  GERMAN  AND  ENGLISH    DICTIONARY. 


AN  HISTORICAL  TEXT-BOOK,  AND  ATLAS  OF  BIBLICAL  GEO- 
GRAPHY. With  seven  new  Maps,  engraved  on  Steel.  By  Lyman  Cole- 
man, D.  D. 

LEE'S  HUMAN  PHYSIOLOGY,  20th  edition,  revised  for  Schools.     12mo. 

MILTON'S  POETICAL  WORKS,  with  a  Life,  Dissertations,  Verbal  Index, 
and  Notes.     By  Prof.  C.  D.  Cleveland.     1  vol.  roval  12mo.     2d  edition. 

NEUMAN  AND  BARETTI'S  SPANISH  AND  ENGLISH  DICTIONARY. 
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LEMPRIERE'S  CLASSICAL  DICTIONARY,  containing  the  principal  Names 
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and  Mythology  of  the  Ancients.  Revised,  corrected,  and  arranged  in  a 
new  form,  by  Lor.  L.  da  Ponte  and  John  D.  Ogilby.  8vo. 

ADAMS'S  ROMAN  ANTIQUITIES,  a  new  edition,  from  a  late  English 
copy,  illustrated  with  upwards  of  100  engravings  on  Steel  »nd  Wood  ;  with 
Notes  and  Improvements  by  L.  L.  da  Ponte,  editor  of  the  7th,  Sth,  9lh,  and 
10th  American  editions  of  Lempriere's  Classical  Dictionary. 

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